Gene involved in CADASIL, method of diagnosis and therapeutic application

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns the Notch3 gene and the corresponding protein, which are involved in CADASIL. The invention concerns, in particular, methods for demonstrating mutations in this gene, which are linked to the risk of developing CADASIL. The invention also concerns models and products for treating CADASIL and related diseases.

[0001] The present invention relates to the demonstration of the involvement of the Notch3 protein in CADASIL thus allowing in particular a diagnosis of a predisposition to certain neurological disorders, in particular CADASIL, and models which make it possible to test the therapies possible for this type of pathology.

[0002] CADASIL or “Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy” has recently been identified as a cause of cerebral attacks and of dementia whose main characteristics include recidivous subcortical infarcts, migraines and a vascular dementia, in association with MRI images objectivizing diffuse abnormalities of the cerebral white substance.

[0003] An anatomicopathological examination shows multiple small deep cerebral infarcts, a leukoencephalopathy and a nonatherosclerotic and nonamyloid angiopathy involving essentially the small cerebral arteries.

[0004] As its name indicates, CADASIL is a hereditary disease with a dominant autosomal character. For more information, there may be found in particular a study of the clinical spectrum of CADASIL in H. Chabriat et al., The Lancet, Vol. 346, Oct. 7, 1995.

[0005] This highly incapacitating and very often lethal disease has probably remained so far largely undiagnosed as such; the study of about one hundred families since 1993 shows that erroneous diagnoses were most often given to the patient (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and the like). Current studies would tend to demonstrate that it is a condition which is much more widespread than what was thought during its discovery.

[0006] The research studies currently pursued have the objective of identifying diagnostic tools for the disease and, by virtue, in particular of the models and the possibilities offered by genetic engineering, of developing a possible substitute therapy.

[0007] The gene involved in CADASIL has been localized on chromosome 19 and a finer localization is in particular mentioned in two patent applications with the same inventors.

[0008] It has now been possible to identify the gene involved in CADASIL which is the Notch3 gene.

[0009] The demonstration of the involvement of Notch3 in CADASIL has been possible given the previous limits which had been mentioned especially in the patent applications in question, the first interval (size 14 cM) was D19S221-D19S215 (first patent application), and then the second interval (size 2 cM) was D19S226-D19S199 (second patent application). The region of interest was cloned into a BAC and YAC contig (continuous nucleotide sequence) and its size was estimated at 800 kb. Analysis of this region with the aid of restriction enzymes showed a very high density of NotI, EagI and SacII sites which suggested the presence of numerous genes. Among the numerous transcripts identified by cDNA selection, one transcript showed a very strong homology with a sequence situated at the coding 5′ end of the mouse gene Notch3. Since other analytical factors seemed to corroborate this presence of the Notch3 gene in this situation, the latter was considered to be a good candidate gene by its position in the interval of interest.

[0010] The comparative studies carried out on known CADASIL families in comparison with healthy subjects have made it possible to identify mutations on this Notch3 gene in a large number of CADASIL subjects whereas such mutations were not observed on the healthy subjects analyzed. Since, finally, it has been possible to demonstrate the cosegregation of these mutations with the disease phenotype within effected families, the involvement of the Notch3 gene in CADASIL became incontestable.

[0011] All the point mutations observed lead to the creation or to the disappearance of a cysteine in one of the EGF domains of this protein. These mutations are clustered for a large part of them into the first six, EGFs. The clustering of the mutations is certainly important in diagnostic terms especially for the “sequential” search for these mutations.

[0012] Moreover, all these mutations lead to the presence of an odd number of cysteines in one of the EGFs (either seven, or five cysteines) instead of the six cysteines normally present. These mutations could thus result in the formation of either intra- or intermolecular (and in this case in the formation of homo- or heterodimers) aberrant disulfide bridges.

[0013] The role of a normal or abnormal dimerization in the functioning of receptors, in particular their activation, is well known.

[0014] The Notch genes have been known for a very long time, especially in drosophila and their equivalent is known in vertebrates, in particular in mice. Its English name “notch” comes from the fact that some mutations of this gene produce a notch in the wings of flies. The article by Spyros Artavanis-Tskanas et al., Science 268, 225 (.1995) as well as the references which it contains indicate that the Notch proteins are essentially involved, especially in drosophila, in the specification of the cellular destiny during development, and although the protein is always expressed in, adult organisms, its functions in the latter remain unknown. More precisely, it appears that the product of the Notch3 gene, hereinafter “Notch3 protein”, is a cell receptor which controls a cascade of cellular events and whose mutation necessarily leads to greater or lesser disruptions in this cascade which may lead to many other neurological, especially cerebrovascular, disorders.

[0015] It should be recalled that, while in the text which follows there is interest more particularly in neurological disorders, in particular cerebrovascular-type disorders and most particularly CADASIL, it is probable, given the function of the cell receptor for the product of the Notch3 gene, that impairment of this receptor can lead to a disorganization of its interaction with various ligands but also with the various partners involved in the transduction cascade. Account should be taken, in addition, of the fact that the Notch3 protein might have other functions which have not yet been demonstrated. Under these conditions, it is highly probable that conditions exhibiting similarities with CADASIL may also be involved in the case of a mutation in the Notch3 gene.

[0016] Among the relevant diseases, there may be mentioned the sporadic forms of CADASIL, that is to say which occur without a family history but following a neomutation. Notch3 might moreover be involved in other conditions which may be classified into different groups:

[0017] Migraine and Hemiplegic Migraine

[0018] It was shown that at least one of the genes involved in familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), the dominant autosomal form of migraine with aura, was located in the same region of chromosome 19 as the CADASIL gene. It should be noted that more than 30% of patients suffering from CADASIL, a condition characterized by the repeated onset of cerebrovascular accidents and of a vascular dementia, suffered from migraine with aura. However, the latter is observed in only about 5% of the population; it is this observation which led to testing the involvement of the CADASIL gene in the mechanisms of this condition. The involvement of this gene in a form of migraine with or without aura was of considerable diagnostic and therapeutic interest because of the frequency of migraine with aura and of migraine without aura in the general population.

[0019] Other Vascular (Cerebral Infarct) and/or Dementia Pathologies of Unknown Etiology

[0020] This group corresponds to a very large number of patients in neurology, psychiatric and internal medicine departments and it is everything to do reasonable to think that Notch3 or a partner in this signaling pathway may be involved in these conditions for the reasons stated above.

[0021] Familial Paroxytic Ataxia

[0022] The situation is the same as for FHM. A gene responsible for this condition has been located in the same region of chromosome 19 and Notch3 could be implicated in this condition.

[0023] Moreover, the mutations of this gene are responsible for developmental abnormalities which are well known in other species as well as for neoplastic-type pathologies. Malformative and/or neoplastic syndromes in which there may be demonstrated, a rearrangement of the region which contains this gene might be major candidates for the search for an involvement of this gene in their physiopathology.

[0024] These disorders may be grouped under the name of “disorders linked to the Notch3 receptor”.

[0025] In some cases, this may involve disorders having a multigenic origin but in which the modifications of Notch3 might contribute to the onset of the pathology or to its worsening.

[0026] The present invention relates, first of all, to an isolated nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it is chosen from:

[0027] a) the sequences encoding the human Notch3 protein and its allelic variants,

[0028] b) the sequences encoding a fragment of these proteins and having at least 10 bases,

[0029] c) the human Notch3 genomic sequences and its alleles,

[0030] d) the sequences exhibiting at least 80%, and preferably at least 90%, homology with the sequences (a) and (c),

[0031] e) the fragments of the sequences (c) or (d) having at least 10 bases,

[0032] f) the sequences which hybridize with a sequence of (a) to (e).

[0033] It should be understood that the present invention does not relate to the genomic nucleotide sequences in their natural chromosomal environment, that is to say in the natural state; they are sequences which have been isolated, that is to say that they were collected directly or indirectly, for example by copying (cDNA), their environment having been at least partially modified.

[0034] Thus, this may also involve both cDNA and genomic DNA which is partially modified or carried by sequences which are at least partially different from the sequences carrying them naturally.

[0035] These sequences may also be described as being “nonnatural”.

[0036] “Nucleic sequence” is understood to mean a natural isolated, or synthetic, fragment of DNA and/or RNA designating a precise linkage of nucleotides, modified or otherwise, making it possible to define a fragment, a segment or a region of a nucleic acid.

[0037] “Allelic variant” of the protein is understood to mean all the mutated proteins and the polymorphisms which may exist in a human being, which are obtained in particular by truncation, substitution, deletion or addition of amino, acid residues, as well as the artificial variants.

[0038] According to the invention, the nucleic sequence fragments may in particular encode domains of the protein or may be used as probe or as primer in methods of detection, identification or amplification. These fragments have a minimum size of 10 bases and fragments of 20 bases, preferably 30 bases, will be preferred.

[0039] According to the invention, the homology is solely of the statistical type; it means that the sequences exhibit at least 80%, and preferably 90%, of nucleotides in common.

[0040] The hybridization conditions should make it possible, according to the invention, to ensure at least 95% homology.

[0041] More particularly, the present invention relates to a nucleotide sequence chosen from:

[0042] a) the sequences encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acids according to the sequence in FIG. 1,

[0043] b) the nucleic sequences corresponding to FIG. 1,

[0044] c) a fragment of a sequence according to (a) or (b) containing at least 10 bases, and

[0045] d) a sequence which contains, relative to the sequences (a), (b) or (c), at most 20 partial mutations.

[0046]FIG. 1. represents the sequences of Notch3 as were sequenced on a normal genome.

[0047] The sequences are identified by references which make it possible to position them relative to each other using FIG. 3.

[0048] As regards the special remarks on (a), (b), (c) and (d), the previous remarks apply.

[0049] The invention also relates to the fragments of these sequences, in particular sequences encoding polypeptides which have retained all, or part of the activity of the Notch3 protein.

[0050] Among the particularly advantageous sequences, there may be mentioned those encoding domains or combinations of domains of the Notch3 protein, that is to say the sequences:

[0051] “EGF” repeats

[0052] “Notch/lin12” repeats

[0053] “cdc10/SW16” repeats

[0054] or the transmembrane sequence.

[0055] Among the advantageous sequences are in particular the sequence encoded by the second transcript which will be described in the text which follows, the said transcript having an estimated size of between 1.3 and 2.4 kb.

[0056] These sequences may be identified with reference in particular to FIG. 2 which schematically represents the organization of Notch3.

[0057] These partial sequences can be used for numerous applications, as described below, especially for preparing Notch-type or different types of protein constructs but also for preparing, for example, truncated Notch-like proteins which will serve as lure for the Notch3 ligand or as agonist for the protein.

[0058] It is also possible to envisage using these protein sequences for their intrinsic effects; thus, the EGF domains are present in other proteins, especially other receptors; reference may be made for example to Iain D. Campbell,. Current Biology, 3: 385-392 (1993) for other applications of the EGF sequences in question.

[0059] While the sequences described are in general normal sequences, the invention also relates to the mutated sequences insofar as they contain at least one point mutation and preferably less than 20 mutations in total.

[0060] Preferably, the present invention relates to the nucleotide sequences in which the point mutations are not silent, that is to say that they lead to a modification of the amino acid encoded relative to the normal sequence. Still more preferably, these mutations affect amino acids which structure the Notch3 protein or the corresponding fragments thereof, that is to say in particular the mutations which suppress the cysteines or, on the contrary, which make them appear, but also the mutations which change the character of the protein, either from the charge point, of view, or from the hydrophobicity point of view.

[0061] The present invention also relates to the mutations which may occur in the promoter and/or regulatory sequences of the human Notch3 gene, which may have effects on the expression of the protein.

[0062] Examples of such mutations will be described in the text which follows.

[0063] In general, the present invention relates to both the normal Notch3 protein and the mutated Notch3 proteins, as well as to their fragments and to the corresponding DNA and RNA sequences, that is to say the alleles.

[0064] It should be noted that the Northern blot study of the expression of this gene in human tissues reveals two transcripts. One having a size estimated at 7.5-9.5 kb is present in all the tissues tested; the other, whose size is between 1.3 and 2.4 kb, is detected only in some parts of the central nervous system. The present invention relates to these two transcripts.

[0065] Among the nucleotide fragments, there may be mentioned the intron genomic sequences of the Notch3 gene and more particularly the joining sequences between the introns and the exons, especially as are represented in Table A; and finally, the present invention relates to all the primers which may be deduced from the preceding nucleotide sequences and which may make it possible to detect them using an amplification method such as the PCR method, especially those presented in Table B.

[0066] The present invention also relates to the nucleotide sequences which may contain nonnatural nucleotides, especially sulfur-containing nucleotides for example or having an α or β structure.

[0067] Finally, the present invention of course relates to both the DNA and RNA sequences, as well as the corresponding double-stranded DNAs.

[0068] As will be described below for some applications, it may be necessary to provide for mixed constructs, protein/DNA/chemical compound, especially the use of intercalating agents for example; it should be understood that such compounds are covered by the patent as containing a sequence according to the invention.

[0069] The present invention also relates to the polypeptide or peptide proteins corresponding to the abovementioned sequences, in a nonnatural form, that is to say that they are not taken in their natural environment but obtained by purification from natural sources or obtained by genetic recombination, as will be described below.

[0070] The invention also relates to the same polypeptides or proteins obtained by chemical synthesis and capable of containing nonnatural amino acids.

[0071] The present invention relates to the recombinant proteins thus obtained both in a glycosylated and nonglycosylated form and capable of having or otherwise the natural tertiary structure.

[0072] In particular, the present invention relates to the Notch3 fragments which exhibit an activity similar to the total receptor, especially the soluble part(s) of said receptor corresponding in particular to their extracellular domain. These may be used especially as a lure in a therapy, as will be described below.

[0073] The present invention also relates to the cloning and expression vectors containing a nucleotide sequence as described above.

[0074] These cloning and expression vectors may contain elements ensuring the expression of the sequence in a host cell, especially promoter sequences and regulatory sequences which are efficient in said cell (see reference below).

[0075] The vector in question may be autonomously replicating or intended to ensure the integration of the sequence into the chromosomes of the host cell.

[0076] In the case of autonomously replicating systems, depending on the prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell, plasmid-type systems or viral systems will preferably be used, it being possible for the viral vectors to be especially adenoviruses, poxviruses or herpesviruses. Persons skilled in the art know the technologies which can be used for each of these viruses (see reference below).

[0077] When the integration of the sequence into the chromosomes of the host cell is desired, it will be necessary to provide for, on either side of the nucleotide sequence to be integrated, one or more sequences obtained from the host cell in order to bring about the recombination. These are also methods which are widely described in the prior art. It will be possible, for example, to use plasmid or viral type systems; such viruses will be, for example, retroviruses or AAVs (Adeno-Associated Viruses).

[0078] The invention also relates to the prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells transformed by a vector as described above, and this being in order to bring about the expression of a natural or mutated Notch3 protein or, for example, of one of its subunits.

[0079] As indicated above, the present invention also relates to the proteins, peptides or polypeptides obtained by culturing the cells thus transformed and recovering the protein expressed, it being possible for said recovery to be carried out intracellularly or extracellularly from the culture medium when the vector: has been designed to bring about the excretion of the protein via for example a “leader” sequence, the protein being in a pre-protein or prepro-protein form. The constructs allowing the secretion of the proteins are known both for prokaryotic systems and eukaryotic systems.

[0080] Among the cells which can be used for the production of these proteins, there may of course be mentioned bacterial cells, but also yeast cells, as well as animal cells, in particular mammalian cell cultures, but also insect cells in which methods using baculoviruses for example may be used (see reference below).

[0081] The cells thus obtained can make it possible to prepare natural or mutated Notch3 proteins, but also fragments of these proteins, especially polypeptides which may correspond to the different domains in question.

[0082] However, the cells transformed as described above may also be used as a model to study the interactions between the Notch gene and its various ligands as well as its influence on the products downstream of the receptor, but in particular they may be used in an application for the selection of products interacting with the natural or mutated Notch3 receptor, as an agonist or an antagonist of this receptor.

[0083] This type of cellular model may be produced using genetic engineering techniques. It involves, depending on the type of cells which it is desired to use, cloning the gene in question in its normal form or in its mutated form into an expression vector, whether it is an autonomously replicating vector or an integration vector, said vector containing all the elements allowing the expression of the gene in the cell in question, or the latter having all the elements allowing the expression of the sequence in question.

[0084] There are thus obtained eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells expressing the Notch3 protein(s) which, given its characteristics, will be situated like a transmembrane protein whose fine structure will be described in the text which follows, it being possible for said cells to then constitute models which make it possible to test at the same time the interactions Of various ligands with the product of the Notch3 protein or to test synthetic chemical products capable of interacting with the product of the Notch3 gene, and this by adding them to the culture medium for said cells.

[0085] It should in particular be noted, that the products in question may also be products with either antagonist or agonist activity.

[0086] The use of cellular models to test pharmaceutical products is well known; here again, there is no need to present this type of model in detail.

[0087] Another potential application of the characterization of this gene is the possibility of identifying potential ligands for this protein, either because they have a conserved sequence with human Notch3, or because they interact with Notch3 (affinity methods) or partners for this signaling pathway.

[0088] These models may be of the in vitro type, for example cultures of human cells, either in a normal culture, or possibly in the form of an isolated organ, such as for example certain types of vessels which may be transformed in order to cause them to express the desired phenotypes.

[0089] The present invention also relates to the organisms, such as animals, in particular mice, expressing the phenotype corresponding to the normal or mutated Notch3 of human origin. Here again, these animals may be used as model animals to test the efficacy of certain pharmaceutical products.

[0090] The present invention also relates to the products obtained using the preceding cellular models.

[0091] There will thus be obtained, depending on the type of interaction determined, therapeutic compositions characterized in that they contain, as active ingredient, a compound with a pro-Notch3 activity; this may be in particular all or part of a polypeptide as were described above or a vector expressing these same polypeptides, or else chemical or biological compounds having a pro-Notch3 activity, a Notch3-like activity or inducing the production of natural Notch3.

[0092] It will also be possible to demonstrate therapeutic compositions in which the active ingredient will have an anti-Notch3 action.

[0093] This may involve, here again, modified proteins described above which may play the role of a lure, or anti-Notch3 antibodies, in particular when these antibodies recognize the mutated receptors and will, under these conditions, be able to block the activity of the normal receptor.

[0094] This may also involve chemical products having an anti-Notch3 activity, or Notch3 antagonists.

[0095] In some cases, the use of some of the Notch3 domains may allow a therapeutic approach blocking the activity of the Notch3 receptor when the latter is mutated using soluble receptors which will serve as lure to the natural ligands; in other cases, it will be possible, by expressing the entire receptor, to provide a replacement therapy using either directly the proteins or fragments thereof, or directly expressing the protein, especially via gene therapy and using the vectors which were described above.

[0096] In the context of gene therapy, it is also possible to provide for the use of the sequences of the genes or cDNAs described above as “naked”; this technique was in particular developed by the company Vical; it has shown that it was possible, under these conditions, to express the protein in certain tissues without requiring the use of the support for a viral vector in particular.

[0097] Still in the context of gene therapy, it is also possible to provide for the use of cells transformed ex vivo, which cells may then be reimplanted either as such or in systems of the organoid type, as is also known in the state of the art. It is also possible to envisage the use of an agent facilitating targeting of the determined cell type, penetration into the cells or transport to the nucleus.

[0098] Among the numerous pharmaceutical compounds which can be used, there should be mentioned more particularly, in addition to the ligands for the Notch3 product, the sense or anti-sense sequences interacting with the normal or mutated Notch3 gene, or interacting on the regulation or expression of these genes, it being also possible for said products to interact downstream of the expression products induced by the Notch3 receptors. The soluble sequences corresponding to Notch3 should furthermore be cited.

[0099] There should also be mentioned the monoclonal antibodies blocking the Notch3 receptors, in particular the mutated Notch3 receptors, and/or blocking the corresponding ligands and/or the products induced by said receptors which may therefore have pro or anti activities.

[0100] It should be recalled that the monoclonal antibodies directed against the Notch3 receptor may, depending on the epitope recognized, have a pro or anti-Notch3 activity which makes them useable in therapeutic compositions.

[0101] Finally, the present invention relates, as was said above, more particularly to the methods of diagnosing a predisposition to neurological conditions, especially of the CADASIL type, or of diseases linked to the Notch3 receptor in a patient, characterized in that the presence of a mutation in Notch3 is determined using a biological sample from said patient by analysis of all or part of a nucleic sequence corresponding to said gene, the presence of at least one such mutation being indicative of a predisposition of said patient to neurological conditions or diseases linked to the. Notch3 receptor.

[0102] Other diagnostic methods can make it possible to characterize, by means of antibodies, the deposit expected in the basal membrane of the vascular smooth muscle cells, a deposit which might consist of the Notch3 protein itself or one of its cleavage products.

[0103] Among the desired mutations, there may be mentioned more particularly the mutations referenced in Table C and FIG. 3.

[0104] The nucleic acid sequences may be either genomic DNA, a cDNA or an mRNA.

[0105] As was said above, among the neurological disorders which may be demonstrated, there is understood more particularly disorders of the cerebrovascular type and especially CADASIL, but the list of certain disorders which might be linked to an abnormality in the Notch3 receptor has been previously given; among these conditions, there may be mentioned most particularly the potential involvement of Notch3 in migraines with or without aura and dementias of currently unknown etiology.

[0106] The diagnostic tools based on the present invention may allow a positive and differential diagnosis in a patient taken in isolation or alternatively a presymptomatic diagnosis in an at-risk subject (family history for example), it is also possible to envisage an antenatal diagnosis.

[0107] In addition, the detection of a specific mutation may allow an evolutive diagnosis.

[0108] The methods which make it possible to demonstrate the mutation in a gene relative to the natural gene are of course very numerous; they may be carried out by studying the genomic DNA, the cDNA and/or the protein. They can be essentially divided into two large categories, the first type of method is that in which the presence of a mutation is detected by comparing the mutated sequence with the corresponding nonmutated natural sequence, and the second type in which the presence of the mutation is detected indirectly, for example, by detecting the mismatches due to the presence of the mutation.

[0109] In both cases, the methods in which all or part of the sequence corresponding to Notch3 is amplified prior to the detection of the mutation will be preferred in general; these amplification methods may be carried out by the so-called PCR (see reference below) or PCR-like methods. PCR-like will be understood to designate all the methods using direct or indirect reproductions of the nucleic acid sequences, or in which the labeling systems have been amplified; these techniques are well known, in general they relate to the amplification of DNA by polymerase; when the original samples is an RNA, it is advisable to carry out a reverse transcription beforehand; a great number of methods allowing this amplification currently exists, for example the so-called NASBA and TMA methods which are well known to persons skilled in the art.

[0110] Table B gives the sequences of the PCR primers which make it possible to amplify the exons as well as the temperatures for the PCR reactions.

[0111] A general methodology for amplification of the sequences will be described in the examples.

[0112] Test for Point Mutations

[0113] In addition to the direct sequencing of the mutation, various methods may be used. The techniques will be briefly cited:

[0114] 1) test for “Single Strand Conformation Polymorphisms” (SSCP) (see reference below) or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).

[0115] 2) the methods based on a cleavage of the mismatched regions (enzymatic cleavage by S1 nuclease, chemical cleavage by various compounds such as piperidine or osmium tetroxide, and the like.

[0116] 3) heteroduplex detection by electrophoresis,

[0117] 4) methods based on the use in hybrication of allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes.

[0118] Other well known methods based on hybrication techniques can be used.

[0119] Test for Deletion, Inversion or Duplication Type Rearrangements

[0120] Other well known methods based on the techniques of hybridization with the aid of genomic probes, of cDNA probes, of oligonucleotide probes, of riboprobes, of so-called capture probes or of so-called detection probes, may be used for the test for this type of rearrangement.

[0121] Another diagnostic approach which can be used when DNA from several subjects of the same family is available is based on the method of linkage analysis which makes it possible to calculate the risk which a subject belonging to a linked family has of being a carrier or otherwise of the diseased gene. This analysis may be carried out with polymorphic markers situated in the immediate vicinity of the gene, or intragenic polymorphic markers.

[0122] It is important to recall that in the CADASIL families, the existence of mutations in the Notch3 gene corresponds to mutations which change amino acids which are essential for the function of the protein for which it encodes.

[0123] Moreover, in the examples, the situations of the mutations currently detected are indicated, but it is possible that other mutations exist in the Notch3 gene which have not yet been detected but which should lead to the same types of risks from the pathological point of view.

[0124] In any case, the mutated Notch3 proteins may exhibit an antigenicity which is different from that of the natural protein.

[0125] It is therefore possible to carry out a diagnosis or a prognosis of a susceptibility to neurological, in particular cerebrovascular, disorders of the CADASIL type and disorders linked to the Notch3 receptor, by detecting the product of the mutated gene for Notch3; this type of detection can be carried out, for example, with the aid of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Under these conditions, it is possible to detect and assay the abnormal product of the Notch3 gene by well known methods, RIA or ELISA for example; these technologies being known, they will not be further developed beforehand in the text which follows. Antibodies directed against the normal protein could also be used if the deposit present in the arteries of the skin corresponded to the Notch3 protein or to one of its cleavage products.

[0126] The present invention also relates to the labeled monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies corresponding to all or part of the mutated proteins so as to serve as imaging agent in vivo or ex vivo on biological samples.

[0127] Thus, it appears that the granular masses present in the basals of the vascular smooth muscle cells are due to an accumulation of the abnormal protein and the test for this protein with the aid of antibodies, either in biopsies or in vivo, is of a diagnostic interest.

[0128] Methods Based on the Detection of the Product of the Gene

[0129] The mutations of the Notch3 gene may be responsible for various modifications of the product of this gene, modifications which can be used for a diagnostic approach. Briefly, the protein may be truncated, reduced in size or absent; its properties, in particular its antigenicity, may be modified. All these modifications may be used in a diagnostic approach using several well known methods based on the use of mono- or polyclonal antibodies which recognize the normal protein or mutated variants, and this using the study of protein extracts or of tissue sections (for example skin biopsies), or studies carried out in vivo (imaging with the aid of antibodies coupled to a molecule which is detectable in PET-scan type imaging, and the like).

[0130] The polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies may be obtained by immunological reaction of a human or animal organism with an immunogenic agent consisting of a protein or a polypeptide capable of being obtained from prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells transformed by a vector as described above. Preferably, the immunogenic agent consists of a specific polypeptide of the mutated form of the Notch protein whose sequence is chosen from the polypeptide sequences comprising at least one mutation chosen from the mutations corresponding to FIG. 3 or to Table C.

[0131] The present invention finally relates to therapeutic compositions containing, as active ingredient, a compound with a pro-Notch3 activity, especially as described above, as well as therapeutic compositions containing, as active ingredient, a compound with an anti-Notch3 activity.

[0132] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the examples below, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0133]FIG. 1 reproduces the cDNA sequence of human Notch3 as well as the corresponding protein sequence,

[0134]FIG. 2 represents the general structure of the product of the Notch3 gene as well as the mutations which were detected by aligning the human cDNA clones with mouse Notch3,

[0135] A—mouse Notch3 gene with its 34 EGF domains, 3 Notch/Lin12 repeats and 6 cdc10 repeats, as well as the transmembrane domain,

[0136] B—at the bottom, 8 of the human cDNAs with the identifications corresponding to FIG. 1,

[0137] at the top, the alignment of some genomic sequences with the cDNA of at least 29 exons, the origins of the various fragments appear at the bottom of FIG. 4;

[0138] the various clones are available commercially or through libraries;

[0139] the clones 261623; 153875; 149693 are available from the IMAGE consortium;

[0140] the clone C-32b03 is available from GENEXPRESS (Généthon, Evry, France);

[0141] the clones p28-20; CNA-20 are available from CLONTECH;

[0142]FIG. 3 schematically represents the situation and the nature of the mutations involved in CADASIL;

[0143]FIG. 4 represents a “Northern blot” analysis, the Northern blots containing 2 μg per line of human poly (A⁺) DNA, from left to right:

[0144] of various brain tissues,

[0145] of various adult organs,

[0146] of various fetal organs;

[0147] they are hybridized with p28-20, a Notch3 human 1.45 kb cDNA probe; a 7.5 to 9.5 kb transcript is detected in all the tissues, both adult and fetal, with the exception of the liver, the transcript is weakly expressed in the brain tissue in the middle and on the right;

[0148] on the contrary, on the left, not only are transcripts of all the tissues observed, but also the presence of a transcript of between 2.4 and 1.3 kb whose presence has never been mentioned and which may be of a very high importance is observed.

EXAMPLE 1

[0149] Scheme for the Isolation and Analysis of the Notch3 Gene

[0150] Following the remarks and the analysis which were summarized at the beginning of the description as regards the location of the gene, murine cDNA probes were used to isolate the cDNA for the human Notch3 gene, and then genomic clones whose sequences could be aligned with it and with the murine cDNA sequences.

[0151] Additional information on the sequences were obtained from a cDNA fragment (884Na4) obtained by cDNA selection on YAC (884g1) and from two genomic fragments (J431NH and J432NH) which were obtained by subcloning of BAC 13J4 NotI-HindIII fragments.

[0152] In the screening of the (dbest) data bank with all the sequences, it has been possible to identify additional clones (IMAGE clones, Genexpress).

[0153] The coding sequence of the human Notch3 gene, which is highly homologous to the corresponding murine gene, is represented in FIG. 1.

[0154] Table A schematically represents the structure of the gene, specifying the sequence and the position of the exon-intron junctions.

[0155] In this table, the first exon corresponds to a sequence whose 5′ end was not completely cloned, likewise for exon 33.

[0156] It should be noted that alternative cDNAs may exist which correspond to the known phenomenon of alternative splicing.

[0157] This sequence contains 34 EGF domains, 3 Notch/lin12 repeats, as well as 3 cdc10 ankyrin-like repeats. The human and murine proteins exhibit 90.5% identity on the sequence currently available. A 1.45 kb partial human cDNA probe containing the EGF-like domains reveals a ubiquitous transcript in the fetal tissues, as well as in the human adult tissues whose size of between 7.5 and 9.5 kb is similar to the murine transcript (FIG. 4).

[0158] This probe reveals another transcript in certain subregions of the brain whose size is estimated at between 1.3 and 2.4 kb (FIG. 4).

EXAMPLE 2

[0159] Study of the Mutations

[0160] In order to study the extent of the mutations in the Notch3 gene on CADASIL, the possible presence of a substantial genomic DNA rearrangement was first studied using various combinations of enzymes and of Notch3 probes.

[0161] No drastic rearrangement could be detected in the CADASIL patients, that is why point mutations were then tested for.

[0162] Thus, the mutations of the total coding sequence of the Notch3 gene in the genomic DNA were studied using a combination of SSCP method and heteroduplex analysis in 51 CADASIL patients with no family relationship. 28 of them belong to families for which the evidence for a relationship with chromosome 19 has been demonstrated and 33 exhibit ultrastructural lesions of the wall of the arterioles of the skin (presence of osmiophilic granular deposits in the basal membrane of the vascular smooth muscle cells).

[0163] All the splicing junctions, except 3, were analyzed. In addition, direct sequencing of the PCR products of exon 4 and its splicing sites was carried out on all the patients.

[0164] Impairments which were compatible with corresponding mutations were found in 42. patients (82%), said mutations not being observed in any of the 200 control chromosomes. For 26 patients, it was possible to analyze one or more which were related, affected or otherwise, and in each case it was established that the mutation segregated with the CADASIL phenotype. There are 29 different mutations, of which 20 are described for the first time. They include 24 missense mutations which appear in 40 patients, which mutations should replace (16) one amino acid with an additional or mutated cysteine (8) one of the 6 cysteine residues, which are the key elements of the EGF domains.

[0165] Two of the mutations at the 5′ splicing site in the latter two patients should normally affect the splicing of exon 4. The last three mutations are missense mutations which appear in 3 patients simultaneously with the mutations described above.

[0166] Patient 21 carries 2 distinct mutations which change an arginine to cysteine at codon 141 in EGF 3 and which changes a conserved glycine to alanine at codon 288 in EGF 7. This patient's pedigree was not available; it was not therefore possible to study the cosegregation of these two mutations.

[0167] Patient 29 carries a first mutation in EGF 4 which changes an arginine 182 to cysteine and a second which changes a highly conserved alanine 1852 to threonine in the cdc10 domain. These two mutations segregated with the disease.

[0168] The last patient 55 is a carrier of two distinct mutations in the EGF domains, which change a cysteine (224) to a tryptophan and a nonconserved leucine (497) to a serine residue.

[0169] Although the latter three missense mutations are not detected in the 200 control chromosomes, they may involve rare polymorphisms given the presence also of missense mutations which mutate or create cysteine residues.

[0170] It should be noted that most of these 26 mutations having a pathogenic effect lie exclusively in the EGF parts. 41% of these mutations (11 out of 26) appearing in 25 patients are situated in exon 4 and 65% (17 out of 26) lie in the first 6 EGF domains (see in particular FIG. 3.

[0171]FIG. 3 allows the detection to characterize the main mutations detected, the nomenclature chosen indicates the position of the mutation as well as the corresponding modifications of the protein.

[0172] As was indicated above, the fact that a Notch gene is involved in neurological disorders in adults appears completely surprising since Notch is mainly known to be involved during development in drosophila. None of the CADASIL families studied up until now exhibits developmental abnormalities.

EXAMPLE 3

[0173] Detection of the Mutations in Patients by the SSCP Method

[0174] The oligonucleotides used as primers were synthesized from intron-exon joining sequences (Table B) so as to amplify genomic fragments of about 200 bp. The sequences of the PCR primers are given below (Table A).

[0175] The analyses can be carried out using DNA extracted from blood samples or any other tissue.

[0176] The amplification reactions are carried out in a final volume of 25 μl containing 100 ng of genomic DNA, 0.5 μm of each primer, 150 μg of a mixture of 4dNTPs, Taq polymerase 1XPCR from Cetus, 1 U Taq polymerase (BRL), 1.5 μCi αdCTP labeled with P33 according to a protocol comprising 30 identical cycles (94° C., 15 s; 65° C., 15 s; 72° C., 15 s).

[0177] For some of the primers, an “annealing” temperature of 70° C. should be used, as indicated in Table A.

[0178] The PCR products are denatured in 50% formamide and separated by electrophoresis in a 6% nondenaturing polyarylamide gel.

[0179] After autoradiography, the SSCP bands obtained in the patients are compared with those of healthy controls in search of abnormal variants. Their analysis can be used as a diagnostic approach. These variants can then be sequenced if necessary. TABLE A Exon-intron structure of the Notch3 gene (sequences and positions of the exon-intron junctions) Splice Splice Acceptor Site Exon Donor Site Intron/Exon (Size) Position Exon/Intron 1   1-196 CTGCAG/gtgaggggc laAlaAl cccacacag/CCCCCC  2 (79)  197-275 CTGCCT/gtgagtgcc aProPr aCysLe gcccacag/GTGCCC  3 (143) 276-418 TCCGAG/gtgagagg uCysPr heArgG ccctccag/GCCCTG  4 (339) 419-757 TrCCTG/gtgagtga lyProA euProG cttgttag/GGTTTG  5 (123) 758-880 GGACAG/gtgggcac lyPheG rpThrG tgccacag/GCCAGT  6 (234)  881-1114 AGACTG/gtgagtgg lyGlnP ysThrG cttcccag/GCCTCC  7 (156) 1115-1270 CTATCG/gtgagggg lyLeuL erIleG tccggcag/GCGCCA  8 (187) 1271-1456 TGGCAG/gtgggtgg lyAlaA etAlaG tgccccag/GCTTCA  9 (114) 1457-1570 CCTCGG/gtgaggac lyPheT roSerG caccccag/GCTTCA 10 (114) 1571-1684 CCGAGG/gtgaggcg lyPheS laGluG ccccacag/GCTTTG 11 (234) 1685-1918 CCACAG/gtgggacc lyPheG hrThrG gcccctag/GTGTGA 12 (111) 1919-2029 TCACAG/gtgggcaa lyValA heThrG ctccccag/GGCCCC 13 (193) 2030-2222 TGGCGG/gtgagggc lyProL oGlyGl cctgccag/GTTCCG 14 (152) 2223-2374 TCCAGG/gtgtgtac yPheAr alGlnG cccaacag/GACGTC 15 (114) 2375-2488 GGCAAG/gtatgccac lyArgG rpGlnG tacccccag/GCCCAC 16 (156) 2489-2644 ACCCCA/gtgagtgca lyProA spProA gtccgcag/ACCCAT 17 (226) 2645-2870 CCCCAG/gtgggcgg snProC rProSe cgctccag/CTCCTG 18 (202) 2871-3072 TGCCAG/gtgggtgg rSerCy CysGln ccctccag/ACGCTG 19 (148) 3073-3220 AGATCG/gtgagtgg ThrLeu InIleG ctttgcag/GGGTGC 20 (185) 3221-3405 TGTGAG/gtaagggg lyValA CysGlu cactgaag/TGTCTT 21 (133) 3406-3538 CGCTGG/gtatgcca CysLeu hrLeuG tcccccag/GGGTGC 22 (258) 3539-3796 TCTCAG/gttaacct lyValL heSerG tcgctcag/GTCCTC 23 (119) 3797-3915 GCCCAG/gtaggtgtg lyProA AlaGln gacccccag/CCGTTC 24 (566) 3916-4481 TTGCAA/gtgagccc ProPhe rCysAs cccaccag/CCCGGT 25 (333) 4482-4814 GATCGG/gtgagtgac nProVa lIleG tccctgcag/CTCGGT 26 (155) 4815-4969 TGCGGG/gtgcggcc ySerVal alArgG tgctcttag/GGGAGC 27 (223) 4970-5192 CATGAA/gtgagaac lyGluP yMetLy tccgccag/GAACAT 28 (85)  5193-5277 CTAAAG/gtactgcc sAsnMe LeuLys cccctccag/GTAGAG 29 (162) 5278-5440 GCCCAG/gtcagtgac ValGlu lyProA ccctgcag/ATGGCT 30 (305) 5441-5745 TTCCAG/gtgagata spGlyP PheGln tgtcctag/ATTCTC 31 (148) 5746-5893 AGCTTG/gtaggttg IleLeu luLeuG ccctccag/GGAAAT 32 (99)  5894-5992 AGCAAG/gtgagccc lyLysS SerLys ccccccag/GAGGAG 33 5993-     GluGlu

[0180] TABLE B Sequences of the primers used for the screening of the mutations of the Notch3 gene PCR product Exon Size Domain Primers size 1 Signal EOF AAGGAGGGAGGAGGGGAG 125 peptide EOR TGGGGGTITCTTGCACTCC* EOF AAGGAGGGAGGAGGGGAG 163 EORBIS GGTTCCTGCCTCCCATGA* 2 79 EGF1 E1F TCCTCCACCFFCCTTCAC* 148 E1R ACACACAGGGCCCACTGGT* 3 143 EGF 1-2 N1 F TGTGCTGCCCAACCAAGCCA* 224 N1 R ACTGACCACACCCCCGACTA* 4 339 EGF 2-5 N2A F TAGTCGGGGGTGTGGTCAGT* 192 N2A R TCATCCACGTCGCTTCGGCA CNA F ATGGACGCTTCCTCTGCTC 167 CNA R ACATAGTGGCCCTGTGTAGC CNA F ATGGACGCTTCCTCTGCTCC 295 N3AR CCTCTGACTCTCCTGAGTAG* 5 123 EGF 5-6 N23Fbis TGACCATCCTTGCCCCCTT* 241 N23 R CTGGCCTGTGGCACACAGAT* 6 234 EGF 6-8 N13A F TGGACTGCTGCATCTGTGTG* 191 N13A R ACACGCCTGTGGCACAGTCA N13B F GAGCTGCAGTCAGAATATCG 145 N13B R ATCCATGGCTCCCTGCAGAG* 7 156 EGF 8-10 N24 F CAGAGCAGGAAGATCTGCCT* 229 N24 R CATTCACAGACGACGGAGCT* 8 187 EGF 10-11 N3 F ATCGCACTCCATCCGGCA* 212 N3 R ACCCACCTGCCATACAGA* 9 114 EGF 11-12 N25A F CGTTCACACCATAGGGTAGC* 215 N25A R CCCCTTCCCAGACATGTCTT 10 114 EGE 12-13 N25BF CTTGTCGGACTGTCATTGG 195 N25BR GTGTACTGCTCTCACCCTF* 11 234 EGF 13-15 N4AF ATTGGTCCGAGGCCTCACTT* 213 N4AR ACCTGGCTCTCGCAGCGTGT N4B R CCATTCCCAACCCCTCTGTG 199 N4B F TGCCTGTGCTCCTGGCTACA* 12 111 EGF 15-16 N5 F TGGCCACTCCATGCCATGTT* 166 N5 R TCTCATGGCAGCCACTTGCC* 13 193 EGF 16-18 N14 F ATGAGTGTGCTTCCAGCCCA* 258 N14 R GCAGTGTCTGAGGCTGAGAA* 14 152 EGF 18-19 N6 F TCCCTGGCCTGACTACCTTC* 207 N6 R CTGCAGAGGGAAGGTGAGGT* 15 114 EGF 19-20 N26BF AAGGCTATCCTGCTTCC* 183 N26BR GAGGAGGAGGGAAGAGAA* 16 156 EGF 20 22 S13FBIS AGGATGTGGACGAGTGTGCT 195 N26CR GCTTAATGACTGTGTTCC* 17 226 EGF 22-24 N15A F TCAGACTGGGCTAATGGGGG* 257 N15A R TCGCAGTGGAAGCCTCCGTA N15B F GATGTGGATGAGTGCCTGAG 166 N15B R GTCCTGCTCTTCAAGCAGA* 18 202 EGF 24-25 N27F GATCCTCCCTCCCACTCCTT* 256 N27R AGGTCCCCAGTAACTCCA* 19 148 EGF 25-27 N22 F ACTGACTCTAAGTGCTTCCC* 240 N22 R AGCAGGAGGTACGTGCATGA* 20 185 EGF 27-28 N7 F TGTTCCTGTGCCACTCTCCT* 249 N7 R ACCTCCTCTTCCCTCTCCT* 21 133 EGF 28-29 N8 F TCTGTGTCCCACTAAGCTGA* 237 N8 R CAAGAGGAAATGAAGACAGC* 22 258 EGF 29-31 N9A F TTCCTCTTGACCACCCCTCG* 217 N9A R TGGCAGGCACCTGAGCGACA N9B F CAGGATACACTGGTTTGCGC 209 N9B R TGCCACGTTATGGATCAGCC* 23 119 EGF 31-32 N10 F GATCTACATGCTCCCGCTCG* 178 N10 R TACTCCTCCTCCATAGGCCG* 24 566 EGF 32-34 N16AFTR CGTTCTGGGGTCCGCGTT 249 Lin12 N1-3 N16DR AAGCGCAGCGGAAGAAGGGC N16FF GCCCTTCTTCCGCTGCGCTT 230 N16FR ACTGCAGCGCCTCGCATTGC N16GF CTGCGACCGCGAGTGCAACA 239 N16HR ATAGACAGACGGATCGAT* 25 331 Lin12 N3 N21CF CTCTCTGCCTCACCCTT* 207 N21CR GCTGGAACGCAGTAGCT N21DF TGCTCACAGTGCTGCTG 223 N21DR CACGGCTTTTCCAGGTG* 26 155 N34F TTTGAGCCCTCTGGTCC* 306 N34R AAGAGCAGGAAGCAGAG* 27 222 TM N28Fbis TCCCTCTGCTTCCTGCTCTT* 291 N28R TCACAAGGTCCCCGTAGTCA* 28 85 J5N3 F CTCACATCCCCTCTTCCCAT* 203 J5N3 R ATCACGCCCATCATCCACTG* 29 163 Cdc10 N1 L24bisf CAGCACCAAAGGGTG* 241 L24bisR CATCCCTITGGGAGG* 30 305 Cdc10 N1-3 N17AF ATGGCTTCACCCCGCTAATG 176 N17AR AGCCAGGTGCAAAGCAGTCT N17BF TCAGCTTGGGGCACGGACTG 165 N17BR GCATCGGCTGTGACAGCTGT 31 148 Cdc10 N4-5 N26FBIS TGTTCCTGCCATGACCCCT* 239 N26RBIS CAGGTGACACTAACCCAGTC* 32 98 Cdc10 N5-6 N31F TCCTGACCTCTCTCCCCTTC* 178 N31R AATGGCGCTGTGCCACTGCT* 33 Cdc10 N6 N32AF GCTACTGTTAGCTGGGGTTT* 214 NLS N32AR TGATCCAGCAAGCGCACGAT PEST N32EFTER TCACCGACCACCTGGACA 425 N32DR ACCAAGCTGTGCCAGAGA N32DF TCCAAGAAGAGCAGGAGG 246 N32DR ACCAAGCTGTGCCAGAGA N32B F CAGTGTCTCTGGCACAGCTT 248 N32BR TCCTGGGACTGCCAGGTAA N32CF AGCTGCTCAACCCAGGGA 229 N32CR GTGGATTCGGACCAGTCT N32GF GAATCCCCTGAGCACT 235 N32GR CTAAGAACTGACGAGC

[0181] TABLE C Notch3 mutations in CADASIL patients Evidence of SMC Notch3 Patient linkage lesions nt^(a) NotcH mutation Effect Exon Domain Segregation 52* nd nd 224 TGT-->TAT C₄₉-->Y* N2 EGF1 nd 56 nd + 291 TGG-->TGT W₇₁-->C N3 EGFI nd 11 + nd 406 CGT-->TGT R₁₁₀-->C N3 EGF2 + 3 + + 419(−2) AG-->GG abnormal splicing N4 + of exon 4 ? 39 nd + 419(−2) AG-->CG abnormal splicing N4 nd of exon 4 ? 10 + + 475 CGC-->TGC R₁₃₃-->C N4 EGF3 + 20 nd + 475 CGC-->TGC R₁₃₃-->C N4 EGF3 nd 46 + nd 475 CGC-->TGC R₁₃₃-->C N4 EGF3 + 6 + nd 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 + 12 + + 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 + 19 + nd 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 + 21* nd + 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 nd 941 GGC-->GCG G₂₈₈-->A* NS EGF7 nd 38 + nd 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 + 49 + + 499 CGC-->TGC R₁₄₁-->C N4 EGF3 + 26 + + 514 TGC-->CGC C₁₄₆-->R N4 EGF3 + 4 + + 535 CGC-->TGC R₁₅₃-->C N4 EGF3 + 50 nd + 535 CGC-->TGC R₁₅₃-->C N4 EGF3 + 9* + + 583 CGC-->TGC R₁₆₉-->C* N4 EGF4 + 15* + nd 583 CGC-->TGC R₁₆₉-->C* N4 EGF4 + 24 + nd 583 CGC-->TGC R₁₆₉-->C N4 EGF4 + 36* nd + 583 CGC-->TGC R₁₆₉-->C* N4 EGF4 nd 48 nd + 583 CGC-->TGC R₁₆₉-->C N4 EGF4 nd 1 + nd 589 GGT-->TGT G₁₇₁-->C N4 EGF4 + 45* + + 622 CGC-->TGC R₁₈₂-->C* N4 EGF4 + 47* nd + 622 CGC-->TGC R₁₈₂-->C* N4 EGF4 nd 29* + + 622 CGC-->TGC R₁₈₂-->C N4 EGF4 + 5632 GCT-->ACT A1852 >T* N30 cdc10 + 41 nd + 631 TGT-->CGT C₁₈₅-->R N4 EGF4 nd 57 nd + 712 TGC-->AGC C₂₁₂-->S N4 EGF5 nd 8 + nd 742 TGT-->GGT C₂₂₂-->G N4 EGF5 + 55 nd nd 749 TGT-->TAT C₂₂₄-->Y N4 EGF5 + 1568 TCG-->TTG S₄₉₇-->L N9 EGF12 − 14 + + 851 TAT-->TGT Y₂₅₈-->C N5 EGF6 + 54* nd + 1703 TGT-->TAT C₅₄₂-->Y* N11 EGF13 nd 17* + + 1750 CGC-->TGC R₅₅₈-->C* N11 EGF14 + 18* + + 1750 CGC-->TGC R₅₅₈-->C* N11 EGF14 + 31* nd + 1810 CGC-->T+E GC R₅₇₈-->C* N11 EGF14 + 43 nd nd 2260 CGC-->TGC R₇₂₈-->C N14 EGF18 nd 25 + + 3031 CGC-->TGC R₉₈₅-->C N18 EGF25 + 42 nd + 3031 CGC-->TGC R₉₈₅-->C N18 EGF25 nd 7 + nd 3094 CGC-->TGC R₁₀₀₆-->C N19 EGF26 + 35 nd nd 3169 CGC-->TGC R₁₀₃₁-->C N19 EGF26 + 33 nd nd 3769 CGC-->TGT R₁₂₃₁-->C N22 EGF31 nd 58* nd + 3859 TGC-->CGC C₁₂₆₁-->R* N23 EGF32 nd

REFERENCES FOR THE VARIOUS METHODS CITED ABOVE

[0182] Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

[0183] Saiki et al., Science 239, p. 487, 1988+reference manual.

[0184] SSCP

[0185] Orita et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86, p. 2766-2770, 1989.

[0186] Techniques for Detection of Mutations Based on the Demonstration of Mismatches

[0187] chemical cleavage

[0188] enzymatic cleavage (S1 nuclease)

[0189] heteroduplex

[0190] Allele Specific Oligonucleotide probes (ASO)

[0191] References:

[0192] Cotton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85, 4397, 1988

[0193] Sherk et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 72, 989, 1975

[0194] Cariello, Hum. Genet., 42, 726, 1988

[0195] Cloning Vectors and Basic Molecular Biology Techniques

[0196] Current protocols in molecular biology, Eds F. M. Ausubel, R. Brent, R. E. Kingston, D. D. Moore, S. G. Seldman, J. A. Smith and K. Struhl, Published by Green Publishing Associates and Wiley Interscience, 1st edition 1987, John Wiley and sons

[0197] Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual, J. Sambrook, E F Fritsch and T. Mariatis, 2nd edition, 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

[0198] TABLE A Exon-intron structure of the Notch3 gene (sequences and positions of the exon-intron junctions) Splice Acceptor Site Exon Splice Donor Site Intron/Exon (size) Position Exon/Intron 1   1-196 CTGCAT/gtgaggggc (SEQ ID NO:3) laAlaAl (SEQ ID NO:4) cccacacag/CCCCCC  2 (79)  197-275 CTGCCT/gtgagtgcc (SEQ ID NO:5) aProPr aCysLe (SEQ ID NO:6) gcccacag/GTGCCC  3 (143) 276-418 TCCGAG/gtgagagg (SEQ ID NO:7) uCysPr heArgG (SEQ ID NO:8) ccctccag/GCCCTG  4 (339) 419-757 TTCCTG/gtgagtga (SEQ ID NO:9) lyProA euProG (SEQ ID NO:10) cttgttag/GGTTTG  5 (123) 758-880 GGACAG/gtgggcac (SEQ ID NO:11) lyPheG rpThrG (SEQ ID NO:12) tgccacag/GCCAGT  6 (234)  881-1114 AGACTG/gtgagtgg (SEQ ID NO:13) lyGlnP ysThrG (SEQ ID NO:14) cttcccag/GCCTCC  7 (156) 1115-1270 CTATCG/gtgagggg (SEQ ID NO:15) lyLeuL erIleG (SEQ ID NO:16) tccggcag/GCGCCA  8 (187) 1271-1456 TGGCAG/gtgggtgg (SEQ ID NO:17) lyAlaA etAlaG (SEQ ID NO:18) tgccccag/GCTTCA  9 (114) 1457-1570 CCTCGG/gtgaggac (SEQ ID NO:19) lyPheT roSerG (SEQ ID NO:20) caccccag/GCTTCA 10 (114) 1571-1684 CCGAGG/gtgaggcg (SEQ ID NO:21) lyPheS laGluG (SEQ ID NO:22) ccccacag/GCTTTG 11 (234) 1685-1918 CCACAG/gtgggacc (SEQ ID NO:23) lyPheG hrThrG (SEQ ID NO:24) gcccctag/GTGTGA 12 (111) 1919-2029 TCACAG/gtgggcaa (SEQ ID NO:25) lyValA heThrG (SEQ ID NO:26) ctccccag/GGCCCC 13 (193) 2030-2222 TGGCGG/gtgagggc (SEQ ID NO:27) lyProL oGlyGl (SEQ ID NO:28) cctgccag/GTTCCG 14 (152) 2223-2374 TCCAGG/gtgtgtac (SEQ ID NO:29) yPheAr alGlnG (SEQ ID NO:30) cccaacag/GACGTC 15 (114) 2375-2488 GGCAAG/gtatgccac (SEQ ID NO:31) lyArgG rpGlnG (SEQ ID NO:32) tacccccag/GCCCAC 16 (156) 2489-2644 ACCCCA/gtgagtgca (SEQ ID NO:33) lyProA spProA (SEQ ID NO:34) gtccgcag/ACCCAT 17 (226) 2645-2870 CCCCAG/gtgggcgg (SEQ ID NO:35) snProC rProSe (SEQ ID NO:36) cgctccag/CTCCTG 18 (202) 2871-3072 TGCCAG/gtgggtgg (SEQ ID NO:37) rSerCy CysGln (SEQ ID NO:38) ccctccag/ACGCTG 19 (148) 3073-3220 AGATCG/gtgagtgg (SEQ ID NO:39) ThrLeu InIleG (SEQ ID NO:40) ctttgcag/GGGTGC 20 (185) 3221-3405 TGTGAG/gtaagggg (SEQ ID NO:41) lyValA CysGlu (SEQ ID NO:42) cactgaag/TGTCTT 21 (133) 3406-3538 CGCTGG/gtatgcca (SEQ ID NO:43) CysLeu hrLeuG (SEQ ID NO:44) tcccccag/GGGTGC 22 (258) 3539-3796 TCTCAG/gttaacct (SEQ ID NO:45) lyValL heSerG (SEQ ID NO:46) tcgctcag/GTCCTC 23 (119) 3797-3915 GCCCAG/gtaggtgtg (SEQ ID NO:47) lyProA AlaGln (SEQ ID NO:48) gacccccag/CCGTTC 24 (556) 3916-4481 TTGCAA/gtgagccc (SEQ ID NO:49) ProPhe rCysAs (SEQ ID NO:50) cccaccag/CCCGGT 25 (333) 4482-4814 GATCGG/gtgagtgac (SEQ ID NO:51) nProVa lIleG (SEQ ID NO:52) tccctgcag/CTCGGT 26 (155) 4815-4969 TGCGGG/gtgcggcc (SEQ ID NO:53) ySerVal alArgG (SEQ ID NO:54) tgctcttag/GGGAGC 27 (223) 4970-5192 CATGAA/gtgagaac (SEQ ID NO:55) lyGluP yMetLy (SEQ ID NO:56) tccgccag/GAACAT 28 (85)  5193-5277 CTAAG/gtactgcc (SEQ ID NO:57) sAsnMe LeuLys (SEQ ID NO:58) cccctccag/GTAGAG 29 (162) 5278-5440 GCCCAG/gtcagtgac (SEQ ID NO:59) ValGLu lyProA (SEQ ID NO:60) ccctgcag/ATGGCT 30 (305) 5441-5745 TTCCAG/gtgagata (SEQ ID NO:61) spGlyP PheGln (SEQ ID NO:62) tgtcctag/ATTCTC 31 (148) 5746-5893 AGCTTG/gtaggttg (SEQ ID NO:63) IleLeu luLeuG (SEQ ID NO:64) ccctccag/GGAAAT 32 (99)  5894-5992 AGCAAG/gtgagcec (SEQ ID NO:65) lyLysS SerLys (SEQ ID NO:66) ccccccag/GAGGAG 33 5993-     GluGlu

[0199] TABLE B Sequences of the primers used for the screening of the mutations of the Notch3 gene PCR Exon Size Domain Primers product size 1 Signal EOF AAGGAGGGAGGAGGGGAG (SEQ ID NO:66) 125 peptide EOR TGGGGGTTCTTGCACTCC* (SEQ ID NO:67) EOF AAGGAGGGAGGAGGGGAG (SEQ ID NO:68) 163 EORBIS GGTTCCTGCCTCCCATGA* (SEQ ID NO:69) 2 79 EGF1 EIF TCCTCCACCTTCCTTCAC* (SEQ ID NO:70) 148 EIR ACACACAGGGCCCACTGGT* (SEQ ID NO:71) 3 143 EGR 1-2 N1F TGTGCTGCCCAACCAAGCCA* (SEQ ID NO:72) 224 N1R ACTGACCACACCCCCGACTA* (SEQ ID NO:73) 4 339 EGF 2-5 N2A F TAGTCGGGGGTGTGGTCAGT* (SEQ ID NO:74) 192 N2A R TCATCCACGTCGCTTCGGCA (SEQ ID NO:75) CNA F ATGGACGCTTCCTCTGCTC (SEQ ID NO:76) 167 CNA R ACATAGTGGCCCTGTGTAGC (SEQ ID NO:77) CNA F ATGGACGCTTCCTCTGCTCC (SEQ ID NO:78) 295 N3AR CCTCTGACTCTCCTGAGTAG* (SEQ ID NO:79) 5 123 EGF 5-6 N23Fbis TGACCATCCTTGCCCCCTT* (SEQ ID NO:80) 241 N23 R CTGGCCTGTGGCACACAGAT* (SEQ ID NO:81) 6 234 EGF 6-8 N13A F TGGACTGCTGCATCTGTGTG* (SEQ ID NO:82) 191 N13A R ACACGCCTGTGGCACAGTCA (SEQ ID NO:83) N13B F GAGCTGCAGTCAGAATATCG (SEQ ID NO:84) 145 N13B R ATCCATGGCTCCCTGCAGAG* (SEQ ID NO:85) 7 156 EGF 8-10 N24 F CAGAGCAGGAAGATCTGCCT* (SEQ ID NO:86) 229 N24 R CATTCACAGACGACGGAGcT* (SEQ ID NO:87) 8 187 EGF10-11 N3 F ATCGCACTCCATCCGGCA* (SEQ ID NO:88) 212 N3 R ACCCACCTGCCATACAGA* (SEQ ID NO:89) 9 114 EGF11-12 N25AF CGTTCACACCATAGGGTAGC* (SEQ ID NO:90) 215 N25AR CCCCTTCCCAGACATGTCTT (SEQ ID NO:91) 10 114 EGF12-13 N25BF CTTGTCGGACTGTCATTGG (SEQ ID NO:92) 195 N25BR GTGTACTGCTCTCACCCTT* (SEQ ID NO:93) 11 234 EGF13-15 N4AF ATTGGTCCGAGGCCTCACTT* (SEQ ID NO:94) 213 N4AR ACCTGGCTCTCGCAGCGTGT (SEQ IS NO:95) N4B R CCATTCCCAACCCCTCTGTG (SEQ ID NO:96) 199 N4B F TGCCTGTGCTCCTGGCTACA* (SEQ ID NO:97) 12 111 EGF15-16 N5 F TGGCCACTCCATGCCATGTT* (SEQ ID NO:98) 166 N5 R TCTCATGGCAGCCACTTGCC* (SEQ ID NO:99) 13 193 EGF16-18 N14 F ATGAGTGTGCTTCCAGCCCA* (SEQ ID NO:100) 258 N14 R GCAGTGTCTGAGGCTGAGAA* (SEQ ID NO:101) 14 152 EGF18-19 N6 F TCCCTGGCCTGACTACCTTC* (SEQ ID NO:102) 207 N6 R CTGCAGAGGAAGGTGAGGT* (SEQ ID NO:103) 15 114 EGF 19-20 N26BF AAGGCTATCCTGCTTCC* (SEQ ID NO:104) 183 N26BR GAGGAGGAGGGAAGAGAA* (SEQ ID NO:105) 16 156 EGF20-22 S13FB1S AGGATGTGGACGAGTGTGCT (SEQ ID NO:106) 195 N26CR GCTTAATGACTGTGTTC* (SEQ ID NO:107) 17 226 EGF22024 N15A F TCAGACTGGGCTAATGGGGG* (SEQ ID NO:108) 257 N15A R TCGCAGTGGAAGCCTCCGTA (SEQ ID NO:109) N15BF GATGTGGATGAGTGCCTGAG (SEQ ID NO:110) 166 N15BR GTCCTGCTCTTCAAGCAGA* (SEQ ID NO:111) 18 202 EGF24-25 N27F GATCCTCCCTCCCACTCCTT* (SEQ ID NO:112) 256 N27R AGGTCCCCAGTAACTCCA* (SEQ ID NO:113) 19 148 EGF25-27 N22 F ACTGACTCTAAGTGCTTCCC* (SEQ ID NO:114) 240 N22 R AGCAGGAGGTACGTGCATGA* (SEQ ID NO:115) 20 185 EGF27-28 N7 F TGTTCCTGTGCCACTCTCCT* (SEQ ID NO:116) 249 N7 R ACCTCCTCTTCCCTCTCCT* (SEQ ID NO:117) 21 133 EGF28-29 N8 F TCTGTGTCCCACTAAGCTGA* (SEQ ID NO:118) 237 N8 R CAAGAGGAAATGAAGACAGC* (SEQ ID NO:119) 22 258 EGF29-31 N9A F TTCCTCTTGACCACCCCTCG* (SEQ ID NO:120) 217 N9A R TGGCAGGCACCTGAGCGACA (SEQ ID NO:121) N9B F CAGGATACACTGGTTTGCGC (SEQ ID NO:122) 209 N9B R TGCCACGTTATGGATCAGCC* (SEQ ID NO:123) 23 119 EGF31-32 N10 F GATCTACATGCTCCCGCTCG* (SEQ ID NO:124) 178 N10 R TACTCCTCCTCCATAGGCCG* (SEQ ID NO:125) 24 566 EGF32-34 N16AFTR CGTTCTGGGGTCCGCGTT (SEQ ID NO:126) 249 Lin12 N1-3 N16DR AAGCGCAGCGGAAGAAGGGC (SEQ ID NO:127) N16FF GCCCTTCTTCCGCTGCGCTT (SEQ ID NO:128) 230 N16FR ACTGCAGCGCCTCGCATTGC (SEQ ID NO:129) N16GF CTGCGACCGCGAGTGCAACA (SEQ ID NO:130) 239 N16HR ATAGACAGACGGATCGAT* (SEQ ID NO:131) 25 331 Lin12 N3 N21CF CTCTCTGCCTCACCCTT* (SEQ ID NO:132) 207 N21CR GCTGGAACGCAGTAGCT (SEQ ID NO:133) N21DF TGCTCACAGTGCTGCTG (SEQ ID NO:134) 223 N21DR CACGGCTTTTCCAGGTG* (SEQ ID NO:135) 26 155 N34F TTTGAGCCCTCTGGTCC* (SEQ ID NO:136) 306 N34R AAGAGCAGGAAGCAGAG* (SEQ ID NO:137) 27 222 TM N28Fbis TCCCTCTGCTTCCTGCTCTT* (SEQ ID NO:138) 291 N23r TCACAAGGTCCCCGTAGTCA* (SEQ ID NO:139) 28 85 J5N3F CTCACATCCCCTCTTCCCAT* (SEQ ID NO:140) 203 J5N3R ATCACGCCCATCATCCACTG* (SEQ ID NO:141) 29 163 Cdc10N1 L24bisF CAGCACCAAAGGGTG* (SEQ ID NO:142) 241 L24bisR CATCCCTTTGGGAGG* (SEQ ID NO:143) 30 305 Cdc10N1-3 N17AF ATGGCTTCACCCCGCTAATG (SEQ ID NO:144) 176 N17AR AGCCAGGTGCAAAGCAGTCT (SEQ ID NO:145) N17BF TCAGCTTGGGGCACGGACTG (SEQ ID NO:146) 239 N17BR GCATCGGCTGTGACAGCTGT (SEQ ID NO:147) 31 148 Cdc10N4-5 N26FBIS TGTTCCTGCCATGACCCCT* (SEQ ID NO:148) 239 N26RBIS CAGGTGACACTAACCCAGTC* (SEQ ID NO:149) 32 98 Cdc10n5-6 N31F TCCTGACCTCTCTCCCCTTC* (SEQ ID NO:150) 178 N31R AATGGCGCTGTGCCACTGcT* (SEQ ID NO:151) 33 Cdc10N6 N32AF GCTACTGTTAGCTGGGGTTT* (SEQ ID NO:152) 214 NLS N32AR TGATCCAGCAAGCGCACGAT (SEQ ID NO:153) PEST N32EFTER TCACCGACCACCTGGACA (SEQ ID NO:154) 425 N32DR ACCAAGCTGTGCCAGAGA (SEQ ID NO:155) N32DF TCCAAGAAGAGCAGGAGG (SEQ ID NO:156) 246 N32DR ACCAAGCTGTGCCAGAGA (SEQ ID NO:157) N32BF CAGTGTCTCTGGCACAGCT (SEQ ID NO:158) 248 N32BR TCCTGGGACTGCCAGGTAA (SEQ ID NO:159) N32CF AGCTGCTCAACCCAGGGA (SEQ ID NO:160) 229 N32CR GTGGATTCGGACCAGTCT (SEQ ID NO:161) N32GF GAATCCCCTGAGCACT (SEQ ID NO:162) 235 N32GR CTAAGAACTGACGAGC (SEQ ID NO:163)

[0200]

1 163 1 8091 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (79)..(7041) human ADNc Notch 3 1 acgcggcgcg gaggctggcc cgggacgcgc ccggagccca gggaaggagg gaggagggga 60 gggtcgcggc cggccgcc atg ggg ccg ggg gcc cgt ggc cgc cgc cgc cgc 111 Met Gly Pro Gly Ala Arg Gly Arg Arg Arg Arg 1 5 10 cgt cgc ccg atg tcg ccg cca ccg cca ccg cca ccc gtg cgg gcg ctg 159 Arg Arg Pro Met Ser Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Val Arg Ala Leu 15 20 25 ccc ctg ctg ctg ctg cta gcg ggg ccg ggg gct gca gcc ccc cct tgc 207 Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ala Gly Pro Gly Ala Ala Ala Pro Pro Cys 30 35 40 ctg gac gga agc ccg tgt gca aat gga ggt cgt tgc acc cag ctg ccc 255 Leu Asp Gly Ser Pro Cys Ala Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Thr Gln Leu Pro 45 50 55 tcc cgg gag gct gcc tgc ctg tgc ccg cct ggc tgg gtg ggt gag cgg 303 Ser Arg Glu Ala Ala Cys Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Trp Val Gly Glu Arg 60 65 70 75 tgt cag ctg gag gac ccc tgt cac tca ggc ccc tgt gct ggc cgt ggt 351 Cys Gln Leu Glu Asp Pro Cys His Ser Gly Pro Cys Ala Gly Arg Gly 80 85 90 gtc tgc cag agt tca gtg gtg gct ggc acc gcc cga ttc tca tgc cgg 399 Val Cys Gln Ser Ser Val Val Ala Gly Thr Ala Arg Phe Ser Cys Arg 95 100 105 tgc ccc cgt ggc ttc cga ggc cct gac tgc tcc ctg cca gat ccc tgc 447 Cys Pro Arg Gly Phe Arg Gly Pro Asp Cys Ser Leu Pro Asp Pro Cys 110 115 120 ctc agc agc cct tgt gcc cac ggt gcc cgc tgc tca gtg ggg ccc gat 495 Leu Ser Ser Pro Cys Ala His Gly Ala Arg Cys Ser Val Gly Pro Asp 125 130 135 gga cgc ttc ctc tgc tcc tgc cca cct ggc tac cag ggc cgc agc tgc 543 Gly Arg Phe Leu Cys Ser Cys Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gln Gly Arg Ser Cys 140 145 150 155 cga agc gac gtg gat gag tgc cgg gtg ggt gag ccc tgc cgc cat ggt 591 Arg Ser Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Arg Val Gly Glu Pro Cys Arg His Gly 160 165 170 ggc acc tgc ctc aac aca cct ggc tcc ttc cgc tgc cag tgt cca gct 639 Gly Thr Cys Leu Asn Thr Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Cys Gln Cys Pro Ala 175 180 185 ggc tac aca ggg cca cta tgt gag aac ccc gcg gtg ccc tgt gcg ccc 687 Gly Tyr Thr Gly Pro Leu Cys Glu Asn Pro Ala Val Pro Cys Ala Pro 190 195 200 tca cca tgc cgt aac ggg ggc acc tgc agg cag agt ggc gac ctc act 735 Ser Pro Cys Arg Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys Arg Gln Ser Gly Asp Leu Thr 205 210 215 tac gac tgt gcc tgt ctt cct ggg ttt gag ggt cag aat tgt gaa gtg 783 Tyr Asp Cys Ala Cys Leu Pro Gly Phe Glu Gly Gln Asn Cys Glu Val 220 225 230 235 aac gtg gac gac tgt cca gga cac cga tgt ctc aat ggg ggg aca tgc 831 Asn Val Asp Asp Cys Pro Gly His Arg Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys 240 245 250 gtg gat ggc gtc aac acc tat aac tgc cag tgc cct cct gag tgg aca 879 Val Asp Gly Val Asn Thr Tyr Asn Cys Gln Cys Pro Pro Glu Trp Thr 255 260 265 ggc cag ttc tgc acg gag gac gtg gat gag tgt cag ctg cag ccc aac 927 Gly Gln Phe Cys Thr Glu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Gln Leu Gln Pro Asn 270 275 280 gcc tgc cac aat ggg ggt acc tgc ttc aac acg ctg ggt ggc cac agc 975 Ala Cys His Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys Phe Asn Thr Leu Gly Gly His Ser 285 290 295 tgc gtg tgt gtc aat ggc tgg aca ggt gag agc tgc agt cag aat atc 1023 Cys Val Cys Val Asn Gly Trp Thr Gly Glu Ser Cys Ser Gln Asn Ile 300 305 310 315 gat gac tgt gcc aca gcc gtg tgc ttc cat ggg gcc acc tgc cat gac 1071 Asp Asp Cys Ala Thr Ala Val Cys Phe His Gly Ala Thr Cys His Asp 320 325 330 cgc gtg gct tct ttc tac tgt gcc tgc ccc atg ggc aag act ggc ctc 1119 Arg Val Ala Ser Phe Tyr Cys Ala Cys Pro Met Gly Lys Thr Gly Leu 335 340 345 ctg tgt cac ctg gat gac gcc tgt gtc agc aac ccc tgc cac gag gat 1167 Leu Cys His Leu Asp Asp Ala Cys Val Ser Asn Pro Cys His Glu Asp 350 355 360 gct atc tgt gac aca aat ccg gtg aac ggc cgg gcc att tgc acc tgt 1215 Ala Ile Cys Asp Thr Asn Pro Val Asn Gly Arg Ala Ile Cys Thr Cys 365 370 375 cct ccc ggc ttc acg ggt ggg gca tgt gac cag gat gtg gac gag tgc 1263 Pro Pro Gly Phe Thr Gly Gly Ala Cys Asp Gln Asp Val Asp Glu Cys 380 385 390 395 tct atc ggc gcc aac ccc tgc gag cac ttg ggc agg tgc gtg aac acg 1311 Ser Ile Gly Ala Asn Pro Cys Glu His Leu Gly Arg Cys Val Asn Thr 400 405 410 cag ggc tcc ttc ctg tgc cag tgc ggt cgt ggc tac act gga cct cgc 1359 Gln Gly Ser Phe Leu Cys Gln Cys Gly Arg Gly Tyr Thr Gly Pro Arg 415 420 425 tgt gag acc gat gtc aac gag tgt ctg tcg ggg ccc tgc cga aac cag 1407 Cys Glu Thr Asp Val Asn Glu Cys Leu Ser Gly Pro Cys Arg Asn Gln 430 435 440 gcc acg tgc ctc gac cgc ata ggc cag ttc acc tgt atc tgt atg gca 1455 Ala Thr Cys Leu Asp Arg Ile Gly Gln Phe Thr Cys Ile Cys Met Ala 445 450 455 ggc ttc aca gga acc tat tgc gag gtg gac att gac gag tgt cag agt 1503 Gly Phe Thr Gly Thr Tyr Cys Glu Val Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Ser 460 465 470 475 agc ccc tgt gtc aac ggt ggg gtc tgc aag gac cga gtc aat ggc ttc 1551 Ser Pro Cys Val Asn Gly Gly Val Cys Lys Asp Arg Val Asn Gly Phe 480 485 490 agc tgc acc tgc ccc tcg ggc ttc agc ggc tcc acg tgt cag ctg gac 1599 Ser Cys Thr Cys Pro Ser Gly Phe Ser Gly Ser Thr Cys Gln Leu Asp 495 500 505 gtg gac gaa tgc gcc agc acg ccc tgc agg aat ggc gcc aaa tgc gtg 1647 Val Asp Glu Cys Ala Ser Thr Pro Cys Arg Asn Gly Ala Lys Cys Val 510 515 520 gac cag ccc gat ggc tac gag tgc cgc tgt gcc gag ggc ttt gag ggc 1695 Asp Gln Pro Asp Gly Tyr Glu Cys Arg Cys Ala Glu Gly Phe Glu Gly 525 530 535 acg ctg tgt gat cgc aac gtg gac gac tgc tcc cct gac cca tgc cac 1743 Thr Leu Cys Asp Arg Asn Val Asp Asp Cys Ser Pro Asp Pro Cys His 540 545 550 555 cat ggt cgc tgc gtg gat ggc atc gcc agc ttc tca tgt gcc tgt gct 1791 His Gly Arg Cys Val Asp Gly Ile Ala Ser Phe Ser Cys Ala Cys Ala 560 565 570 cct ggc tac acg ggc aca cgc tgc gag agc cag gtg gac gaa tgc cgc 1839 Pro Gly Tyr Thr Gly Thr Arg Cys Glu Ser Gln Val Asp Glu Cys Arg 575 580 585 agc cag ccc tgc cgc cat ggc ggc aaa tgc cta gac ctg gtg gac aag 1887 Ser Gln Pro Cys Arg His Gly Gly Lys Cys Leu Asp Leu Val Asp Lys 590 595 600 tac ctc tgc cgc tgc cct tct ggg acc aca ggt gtg aac tgc gaa gtg 1935 Tyr Leu Cys Arg Cys Pro Ser Gly Thr Thr Gly Val Asn Cys Glu Val 605 610 615 aac att gac gac tgt gcc agc aac ccc tgc acc ttt gga gtc tgc cgt 1983 Asn Ile Asp Asp Cys Ala Ser Asn Pro Cys Thr Phe Gly Val Cys Arg 620 625 630 635 gat ggc atc aac cgc tac gac tgt gtc tgc caa cct ggc ttc aca ggg 2031 Asp Gly Ile Asn Arg Tyr Asp Cys Val Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Thr Gly 640 645 650 ccc ctt tgt aac gtg gag atc aat gag tgt gct tcc agc cca tgc ggc 2079 Pro Leu Cys Asn Val Glu Ile Asn Glu Cys Ala Ser Ser Pro Cys Gly 655 660 665 gag gga ggt tcc tgt gtg gat ggg gaa aat ggc ttc cgc tgc ctc tgc 2127 Glu Gly Gly Ser Cys Val Asp Gly Glu Asn Gly Phe Arg Cys Leu Cys 670 675 680 ccg cct ggc tcc ttg ccc cca ctc tgc ctc ccc ccg agc cat ccc tgt 2175 Pro Pro Gly Ser Leu Pro Pro Leu Cys Leu Pro Pro Ser His Pro Cys 685 690 695 gcc cat gag ccc tgc agt cac ggc atc tgc tat gat gca cct ggc ggg 2223 Ala His Glu Pro Cys Ser His Gly Ile Cys Tyr Asp Ala Pro Gly Gly 700 705 710 715 ttc cgc tgt gtg tgt gag cct ggc tgg agt ggc ccc cgc tgc agc cag 2271 Phe Arg Cys Val Cys Glu Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys Ser Gln 720 725 730 agc ctg gcc cga gac gcc tgt gag tcc cag ccg tgc agg gcc ggt ggg 2319 Ser Leu Ala Arg Asp Ala Cys Glu Ser Gln Pro Cys Arg Ala Gly Gly 735 740 745 aca tgc agc agc gat gga atg ggt ttc cac tgc acc tgc ccg cct ggt 2367 Thr Cys Ser Ser Asp Gly Met Gly Phe His Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly 750 755 760 gtc cag gga cgt cag tgt gaa ctc ctc tcc ccc tgc acc ccg aac ccc 2415 Val Gln Gly Arg Gln Cys Glu Leu Leu Ser Pro Cys Thr Pro Asn Pro 765 770 775 tgt gag cat ggg ggc cgc tgc gag tct gcc cct ggc cag ctg cct gtc 2463 Cys Glu His Gly Gly Arg Cys Glu Ser Ala Pro Gly Gln Leu Pro Val 780 785 790 795 tgc tcc tgc ccc cag ggc tgg caa ggc cca cga tgc cag cag gat gtg 2511 Cys Ser Cys Pro Gln Gly Trp Gln Gly Pro Arg Cys Gln Gln Asp Val 800 805 810 gac gag tgt gct ggc ccc gca ccc tgt ggc cct cat ggt atc tgc acc 2559 Asp Glu Cys Ala Gly Pro Ala Pro Cys Gly Pro His Gly Ile Cys Thr 815 820 825 aac ctg gca ggg agt ttc agc tgc acc tgc cat gga ggg tac act ggc 2607 Asn Leu Ala Gly Ser Phe Ser Cys Thr Cys His Gly Gly Tyr Thr Gly 830 835 840 cct tcc tgt gat cag gac atc aat gac tgt gac ccc aac cca tgc ctg 2655 Pro Ser Cys Asp Gln Asp Ile Asn Asp Cys Asp Pro Asn Pro Cys Leu 845 850 855 aac ggt ggc tcg tgc caa gac ggc gtg ggc tcc ttt tcc tgc tcc tgc 2703 Asn Gly Gly Ser Cys Gln Asp Gly Val Gly Ser Phe Ser Cys Ser Cys 860 865 870 875 ctc cct ggt ttc gcc ggc cca cga tgc gcc cgc gat gtg gat gag tgc 2751 Leu Pro Gly Phe Ala Gly Pro Arg Cys Ala Arg Asp Val Asp Glu Cys 880 885 890 ctg agc aac ccc tgc ggc ccg ggc acc tgt acc gac cac gtg gcc tcc 2799 Leu Ser Asn Pro Cys Gly Pro Gly Thr Cys Thr Asp His Val Ala Ser 895 900 905 ttc acc tgc acc tgc ccg ccg ggc tac gga ggc ttc cac tgc gaa cag 2847 Phe Thr Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gly Gly Phe His Cys Glu Gln 910 915 920 gac ctg ccc gac tgc agc ccc agc tcc tgc ttc aat ggc ggg acc tgt 2895 Asp Leu Pro Asp Cys Ser Pro Ser Ser Cys Phe Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys 925 930 935 gtg gac ggc gtg aac tcg ttc agc tgc ctg tgc cgt ccc ggc tac aca 2943 Val Asp Gly Val Asn Ser Phe Ser Cys Leu Cys Arg Pro Gly Tyr Thr 940 945 950 955 gga gcc cac tgc caa cat gag gca gac ccc tgc ctc tcg cgg ccc tgc 2991 Gly Ala His Cys Gln His Glu Ala Asp Pro Cys Leu Ser Arg Pro Cys 960 965 970 cta cac ggg ggc gtc tgc agc gcc gcc cac cct ggc ttc cgc tgc acc 3039 Leu His Gly Gly Val Cys Ser Ala Ala His Pro Gly Phe Arg Cys Thr 975 980 985 tgc ctc gag agc ttc acg ggc ccg cag tgc cag acg ctg gtg gat tgg 3087 Cys Leu Glu Ser Phe Thr Gly Pro Gln Cys Gln Thr Leu Val Asp Trp 990 995 1000 tgc agc cgc cag cct tgt caa aac ggg ggt cgc tgc gtc cag act ggg 3135 Cys Ser Arg Gln Pro Cys Gln Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Val Gln Thr Gly 1005 1010 1015 gcc tat tgc ctt tgt ccc cct gga tgg agc gga cgc ctc tgt gac atc 3183 Ala Tyr Cys Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Arg Leu Cys Asp Ile 1020 1025 1030 1035 cga agc ttg ccc tgc agg gag gcc gca gcc cag atc ggg gtg cgg ctg 3231 Arg Ser Leu Pro Cys Arg Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln Ile Gly Val Arg Leu 1040 1045 1050 gag cag ctg tgt cag gcg ggt ggg cag tgt gtg gat gaa gac agc tcc 3279 Glu Gln Leu Cys Gln Ala Gly Gly Gln Cys Val Asp Glu Asp Ser Ser 1055 1060 1065 cac tac tgc gtg tgc cca gag ggc cgt act ggt agc cac tgt gag cag 3327 His Tyr Cys Val Cys Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Gly Ser His Cys Glu Gln 1070 1075 1080 gag gtg gac ccc tgc ttg gcc cag ccc tgc cag cat ggg ggg acc tgc 3375 Glu Val Asp Pro Cys Leu Ala Gln Pro Cys Gln His Gly Gly Thr Cys 1085 1090 1095 cgt ggc tat atg ggg ggc tac atg tgt gag tgt ctt cct ggc tac aat 3423 Arg Gly Tyr Met Gly Gly Tyr Met Cys Glu Cys Leu Pro Gly Tyr Asn 1100 1105 1110 1115 ggt gat aac tgt gag gac gac gtg gac gag tgt gcc tcc cag ccc tgc 3471 Gly Asp Asn Cys Glu Asp Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ala Ser Gln Pro Cys 1120 1125 1130 cag cac ggg ggt tca tgc att gac ctc gtg gcc cgc tat ctc tgc tcc 3519 Gln His Gly Gly Ser Cys Ile Asp Leu Val Ala Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ser 1135 1140 1145 tgt ccc cca gga acg ctg ggg gtg ctc tgc gag att aat gag gat gac 3567 Cys Pro Pro Gly Thr Leu Gly Val Leu Cys Glu Ile Asn Glu Asp Asp 1150 1155 1160 tgc ggc cca ggc cca ccg ctg gac tca ggg ccc cgg tgc cta cac aat 3615 Cys Gly Pro Gly Pro Pro Leu Asp Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys Leu His Asn 1165 1170 1175 ggc acc tgc gtg gac ctg gtg ggt ggt ttc cgc tgc acc tgt ccc cca 3663 Gly Thr Cys Val Asp Leu Val Gly Gly Phe Arg Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro 1180 1185 1190 1195 gga tac act ggt ttg cgc tgc gag gca gac atc aat gag tgt cgc tca 3711 Gly Tyr Thr Gly Leu Arg Cys Glu Ala Asp Ile Asn Glu Cys Arg Ser 1200 1205 1210 ggt gcc tgc cac gcg gca cac acc cgg gac tgc ctg cag gac cca ggc 3759 Gly Ala Cys His Ala Ala His Thr Arg Asp Cys Leu Gln Asp Pro Gly 1215 1220 1225 gga ggt ttc cgt tgc ctt tgt cat gct ggc ttc tca ggt cct cgc tgt 3807 Gly Gly Phe Arg Cys Leu Cys His Ala Gly Phe Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys 1230 1235 1240 cag act gtc ctg tct ccc tgc gag tcc cag cca tgc cag cat gga ggc 3855 Gln Thr Val Leu Ser Pro Cys Glu Ser Gln Pro Cys Gln His Gly Gly 1245 1250 1255 cag tgc cgt cct agc ccg ggt cct ggg ggt ggg ctg acc ttc acc tgt 3903 Gln Cys Arg Pro Ser Pro Gly Pro Gly Gly Gly Leu Thr Phe Thr Cys 1260 1265 1270 1275 cac tgt gcc cag ccg ttc tgg ggt ccg cgt tgc gag cgg gtg gcg cgc 3951 His Cys Ala Gln Pro Phe Trp Gly Pro Arg Cys Glu Arg Val Ala Arg 1280 1285 1290 tcc tgc cgg gag ctg cag tgc ccg gtg ggc gtc cca tgc cag cag acg 3999 Ser Cys Arg Glu Leu Gln Cys Pro Val Gly Val Pro Cys Gln Gln Thr 1295 1300 1305 ccc cgc ggg ccg cgc tgc gcc tgc ccc cca ggg ttg tcg gga ccc tcc 4047 Pro Arg Gly Pro Arg Cys Ala Cys Pro Pro Gly Leu Ser Gly Pro Ser 1310 1315 1320 tgc cgc agc ttc ccg ggg tcg ccg ccg ggg gcc agc aac gcc agc tgc 4095 Cys Arg Ser Phe Pro Gly Ser Pro Pro Gly Ala Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys 1325 1330 1335 gcg gcc gcc ccc tgt ctc cac ggg ggc tcc tgc cgc ccc gcg ccg ctc 4143 Ala Ala Ala Pro Cys Leu His Gly Gly Ser Cys Arg Pro Ala Pro Leu 1340 1345 1350 1355 gcg ccc ttc ttc cgc tgc gct tgc gcg cag ggc tgg acc ggg ccg cgc 4191 Ala Pro Phe Phe Arg Cys Ala Cys Ala Gln Gly Trp Thr Gly Pro Arg 1360 1365 1370 tgc gag gcg ccc gcc gcg gca ccc gag gtc tcg gag gag ccg cgg tgc 4239 Cys Glu Ala Pro Ala Ala Ala Pro Glu Val Ser Glu Glu Pro Arg Cys 1375 1380 1385 ccg cgc gcc gcc tgc cag gcc aag cgc ggg gac cag cgc tgc gac cgc 4287 Pro Arg Ala Ala Cys Gln Ala Lys Arg Gly Asp Gln Arg Cys Asp Arg 1390 1395 1400 gag tgc aac agc cca ggc tgc ggc tgg gac ggc ggc gac tgc tcg ctg 4335 Glu Cys Asn Ser Pro Gly Cys Gly Trp Asp Gly Gly Asp Cys Ser Leu 1405 1410 1415 agc gtg ggc gac ccc tgg cgg caa tgc gag gcg ctg cag tgc tgg cgc 4383 Ser Val Gly Asp Pro Trp Arg Gln Cys Glu Ala Leu Gln Cys Trp Arg 1420 1425 1430 1435 ctc ttc aac aac agc cgc tgc gac ccc gcc tgc agc tcg ccc gcc tgc 4431 Leu Phe Asn Asn Ser Arg Cys Asp Pro Ala Cys Ser Ser Pro Ala Cys 1440 1445 1450 ctc tac gac aac ttc gac tgc cac gcc ggt ggc cgc gag cgc act tgc 4479 Leu Tyr Asp Asn Phe Asp Cys His Ala Gly Gly Arg Glu Arg Thr Cys 1455 1460 1465 aac ccg gtg tac gag aag tac tgc gcc gac cac ttt gcc gac ggc cgc 4527 Asn Pro Val Tyr Glu Lys Tyr Cys Ala Asp His Phe Ala Asp Gly Arg 1470 1475 1480 tgc gac cag ggc tgc aac acg gag gag tgc ggc tgg gat ggg ctg gat 4575 Cys Asp Gln Gly Cys Asn Thr Glu Glu Cys Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu Asp 1485 1490 1495 tgt gcc agc gag gtg ccg gcc ctg ctg gcc cgc ggc gtg ctg gtg ctc 4623 Cys Ala Ser Glu Val Pro Ala Leu Leu Ala Arg Gly Val Leu Val Leu 1500 1505 1510 1515 aca gtg ctg ctg ccg ccg gag gag cta ctg cgt tcc agc gcc gac ttt 4671 Thr Val Leu Leu Pro Pro Glu Glu Leu Leu Arg Ser Ser Ala Asp Phe 1520 1525 1530 ctg cag cgg ctc agc gcc atc ctg cgc acc tcg ctg cgc ttc cgc ctg 4719 Leu Gln Arg Leu Ser Ala Ile Leu Arg Thr Ser Leu Arg Phe Arg Leu 1535 1540 1545 gac gcg cac ggc cag gcc atg gtc ttc cct tac cac cgg cct agt cct 4767 Asp Ala His Gly Gln Ala Met Val Phe Pro Tyr His Arg Pro Ser Pro 1550 1555 1560 ggc tcc gaa ccc cgg gcc cgt cgg gag ctg gcc ccc gag gtg atc ggc 4815 Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg Ala Arg Arg Glu Leu Ala Pro Glu Val Ile Gly 1565 1570 1575 tcg gta gta atg ctg gag att gac aac cgg ctc tgc ctg cag tcg cct 4863 Ser Val Val Met Leu Glu Ile Asp Asn Arg Leu Cys Leu Gln Ser Pro 1580 1585 1590 1595 gag aat gat cac tgc ttc ccc gat gcc cag agc gcc gct gac tac ctg 4911 Glu Asn Asp His Cys Phe Pro Asp Ala Gln Ser Ala Ala Asp Tyr Leu 1600 1605 1610 gga gcg ttg tca gcg gtg gag cgc ctg gac ttc ccg tac cca ctg cgg 4959 Gly Ala Leu Ser Ala Val Glu Arg Leu Asp Phe Pro Tyr Pro Leu Arg 1615 1620 1625 gac gtg cgg ggg gag ccg ctg gag cct cca gaa ccc agc gtc ccg ctg 5007 Asp Val Arg Gly Glu Pro Leu Glu Pro Pro Glu Pro Ser Val Pro Leu 1630 1635 1640 ctg cca ctg cta gtg gcg ggc gct gtc ttg ctg ctg gtc att ctc gtc 5055 Leu Pro Leu Leu Val Ala Gly Ala Val Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Leu Val 1645 1650 1655 ctg ggt gtc atg gtg gcc cgg cgc aag cgc gag cac agc acc ctc tgg 5103 Leu Gly Val Met Val Ala Arg Arg Lys Arg Glu His Ser Thr Leu Trp 1660 1665 1670 1675 ttc cct gag ggc ttc tca ctg cac aag gac gtg gcc tct ggt cac aag 5151 Phe Pro Glu Gly Phe Ser Leu His Lys Asp Val Ala Ser Gly His Lys 1680 1685 1690 ggc cgg cgg gaa ccc gtg ggc cag gac gcg ctg ggc atg aag aac atg 5199 Gly Arg Arg Glu Pro Val Gly Gln Asp Ala Leu Gly Met Lys Asn Met 1695 1700 1705 gcc aag ggt gag agc ctg atg ggg gag gtg gcc aca gac tgg atg gac 5247 Ala Lys Gly Glu Ser Leu Met Gly Glu Val Ala Thr Asp Trp Met Asp 1710 1715 1720 aca gag tgc cca gag gcc aag cgg cta aag gta gag gag cca ggc atg 5295 Thr Glu Cys Pro Glu Ala Lys Arg Leu Lys Val Glu Glu Pro Gly Met 1725 1730 1735 ggg gct gag gag gct gtg gat tgc cgt cag tgg act caa cac cat ctg 5343 Gly Ala Glu Glu Ala Val Asp Cys Arg Gln Trp Thr Gln His His Leu 1740 1745 1750 1755 gtt gct gct gac atc cgc gtg gca cca gcc atg gca ctg aca cca cca 5391 Val Ala Ala Asp Ile Arg Val Ala Pro Ala Met Ala Leu Thr Pro Pro 1760 1765 1770 cag ggc gac gca gat gct gat ggc atg gat gtc aat gtg cgt ggc cca 5439 Gln Gly Asp Ala Asp Ala Asp Gly Met Asp Val Asn Val Arg Gly Pro 1775 1780 1785 gat ggc ttc acc ccg cta atg ctg gct tcc ttc tgt ggg ggg gct ctg 5487 Asp Gly Phe Thr Pro Leu Met Leu Ala Ser Phe Cys Gly Gly Ala Leu 1790 1795 1800 gag cca atg cca act gaa gag gat gag gca gat gac aca tca gct agc 5535 Glu Pro Met Pro Thr Glu Glu Asp Glu Ala Asp Asp Thr Ser Ala Ser 1805 1810 1815 atc atc tcc gac ctg atc tgc cag ggg gct cag ctt ggg gca cgg act 5583 Ile Ile Ser Asp Leu Ile Cys Gln Gly Ala Gln Leu Gly Ala Arg Thr 1820 1825 1830 1835 gac cgt act ggc gag act gct ttg cac ctg gct gcc cgt tat gcc cgt 5631 Asp Arg Thr Gly Glu Thr Ala Leu His Leu Ala Ala Arg Tyr Ala Arg 1840 1845 1850 gct gat gca gcc aag cgg ctg ctg gat gct ggg gca gac acc aat gcc 5679 Ala Asp Ala Ala Lys Arg Leu Leu Asp Ala Gly Ala Asp Thr Asn Ala 1855 1860 1865 cag gac cac tca ggc cgc act ccc ctg cac aca gct gtc aca gcc gat 5727 Gln Asp His Ser Gly Arg Thr Pro Leu His Thr Ala Val Thr Ala Asp 1870 1875 1880 gcc cag ggt gtc ttc cag att ctc atc cga aac cgc tct aca gac ttg 5775 Ala Gln Gly Val Phe Gln Ile Leu Ile Arg Asn Arg Ser Thr Asp Leu 1885 1890 1895 gat gcc cgc atg gca gat ggc tca acg gca ctg atc ctg gcg gcc cgc 5823 Asp Ala Arg Met Ala Asp Gly Ser Thr Ala Leu Ile Leu Ala Ala Arg 1900 1905 1910 1915 ctg gca gta gag ggc atg gtg gaa gag ctc atc gcc agc cat gct gat 5871 Leu Ala Val Glu Gly Met Val Glu Glu Leu Ile Ala Ser His Ala Asp 1920 1925 1930 gtc aat gct gtg gat gag ctt ggg aaa tca gcc tta cac tgg gct gcg 5919 Val Asn Ala Val Asp Glu Leu Gly Lys Ser Ala Leu His Trp Ala Ala 1935 1940 1945 gct gtg aac aac gtg gaa gcc act ttg gcc ctg ctc aaa aat gga gcc 5967 Ala Val Asn Asn Val Glu Ala Thr Leu Ala Leu Leu Lys Asn Gly Ala 1950 1955 1960 aat aag gac atg cag gat agc aag gag gag acc ccc cta ttc ctg gcc 6015 Asn Lys Asp Met Gln Asp Ser Lys Glu Glu Thr Pro Leu Phe Leu Ala 1965 1970 1975 gcc cgc gag ggc agc tat gag gct gcc aag ctg ctg ttg gac cac ttt 6063 Ala Arg Glu Gly Ser Tyr Glu Ala Ala Lys Leu Leu Leu Asp His Phe 1980 1985 1990 1995 gcc aac cgt gag atc acc gac cac ctg gac agg ctg ccg cgg gac gta 6111 Ala Asn Arg Glu Ile Thr Asp His Leu Asp Arg Leu Pro Arg Asp Val 2000 2005 2010 gcc cag gag aga ctg cac cag gac atc gtg cgc ttg ctg gat caa ccc 6159 Ala Gln Glu Arg Leu His Gln Asp Ile Val Arg Leu Leu Asp Gln Pro 2015 2020 2025 agt ggg ccc cgc agc ccc ccc ggt ccc cac ggc ctg ggg cct ctg ctc 6207 Ser Gly Pro Arg Ser Pro Pro Gly Pro His Gly Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu 2030 2035 2040 tgt cct cca ggg gcc ttc ctc cct ggc ctc aaa gcg gca cag tcg ggg 6255 Cys Pro Pro Gly Ala Phe Leu Pro Gly Leu Lys Ala Ala Gln Ser Gly 2045 2050 2055 tcc aag aag agc agg agg ccc ccc ggg aag gcg ggg ctg ggg ccg cag 6303 Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg Arg Pro Pro Gly Lys Ala Gly Leu Gly Pro Gln 2060 2065 2070 2075 ggg ccc cgg ggg cgg ggc aag aag ctg acg ctg gcc tgc ccg ggc ccc 6351 Gly Pro Arg Gly Arg Gly Lys Lys Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys Pro Gly Pro 2080 2085 2090 ctg gct gac agc tcg gtc acg ctg tcg ccc gtg gac tcg ctg gac tcc 6399 Leu Ala Asp Ser Ser Val Thr Leu Ser Pro Val Asp Ser Leu Asp Ser 2095 2100 2105 ccg cgg cct ttc ggt ggg ccc cct gct tcc cct ggt ggc ttc ccc ctt 6447 Pro Arg Pro Phe Gly Gly Pro Pro Ala Ser Pro Gly Gly Phe Pro Leu 2110 2115 2120 gag ggg ccc tat gca gct gcc act gcc act gca gtg tct ctg gca cag 6495 Glu Gly Pro Tyr Ala Ala Ala Thr Ala Thr Ala Val Ser Leu Ala Gln 2125 2130 2135 ctt ggt ggc cca ggc cgg gca ggt cta ggg cgc cag ccc cct gga gga 6543 Leu Gly Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Gly Leu Gly Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Gly 2140 2145 2150 2155 tgt gta ctc agc ctg ggc ctg ctg aac cct gtg gct gtg ccc ctc gat 6591 Cys Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu Leu Asn Pro Val Ala Val Pro Leu Asp 2160 2165 2170 tgg gcc cgg ctg ccc cca cct gcc cct cca ggc ccc tcg ttc ctg ctg 6639 Trp Ala Arg Leu Pro Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Pro Ser Phe Leu Leu 2175 2180 2185 cca ctg gcg ccg gga ccc cag ctg ctc aac cca ggg acc ccc gtc tcc 6687 Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly Pro Gln Leu Leu Asn Pro Gly Thr Pro Val Ser 2190 2195 2200 ccg cag gag cgg ccc ccg cct tac ctg gca gtc cca gga cat ggc gag 6735 Pro Gln Glu Arg Pro Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ala Val Pro Gly His Gly Glu 2205 2210 2215 gag tac ccg gtg gct ggg gca cac agc agc ccc cca aag gcc cgc ttc 6783 Glu Tyr Pro Val Ala Gly Ala His Ser Ser Pro Pro Lys Ala Arg Phe 2220 2225 2230 2235 ctg cgg gtt ccc agt gag cac cct tac ctg acc cca tcc ccc gaa tcc 6831 Leu Arg Val Pro Ser Glu His Pro Tyr Leu Thr Pro Ser Pro Glu Ser 2240 2245 2250 cct gag cac tgg gcc agc ccc tca cct ccc tcc ctc tca gac tgg tcc 6879 Pro Glu His Trp Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser Asp Trp Ser 2255 2260 2265 gaa tcc acg cct agc cca gcc act gcc act ggg gcc atg gcc acc acc 6927 Glu Ser Thr Pro Ser Pro Ala Thr Ala Thr Gly Ala Met Ala Thr Thr 2270 2275 2280 act ggg gca ctg cct gcc cag cca ctt ccc ttg tct gtt ccc agc tcc 6975 Thr Gly Ala Leu Pro Ala Gln Pro Leu Pro Leu Ser Val Pro Ser Ser 2285 2290 2295 ctt gct cag gcc cag acc cag ctg ggg ccc cag ccg gaa gtt acc ccc 7023 Leu Ala Gln Ala Gln Thr Gln Leu Gly Pro Gln Pro Glu Val Thr Pro 2300 2305 2310 2315 aag agg caa gtg ttg gcc tgagacgctc gtcagttctt agatcttggg 7071 Lys Arg Gln Val Leu Ala 2320 ggcctaaaga gacccccgtc ctgcctcctt tctttctctg tctcttcctt ccttttagtc 7131 tttttcatcc tcttctcttt ccaccaaccc tcctgcatcc ttgccttgca gcgtgaccga 7191 gataggtcat cagcccaggg cttcagtctt cctttattta taatgggtgg gggctaccac 7251 ccaccctctc agtcttgtga agagtctggg acctccttct tccccacttc tctcttccct 7311 cattcctttc tctctccttc tggcctctca tttccttaca ctctgacatg aatgaattat 7371 tattattttt ctttttcttt ttttttttac attttgtata gaaacaaatt catttaaaca 7431 aacttattat tattattttt tacaaaatat atatatggag atgctccctc cccctgtgaa 7491 ccccccagtg cccccgtggg gctgagtctg tgggcccatt cggccaagct ggattctgtg 7551 tacctagtac acaggcatga ctgggatccc gtgtaccgag tacacgaccc aggtatgtac 7611 caagtaggca cccttgggcg cacccactgg ggccaggggt cgggggagtg ttgggagcct 7671 cctccccacc ccacctccct cacttcactg cattccagat tggacatgtt ccatagcctt 7731 gctggggaag ggcccactgc caactccctc tgccccagcc ccacccttgg ccatctccct 7791 ttgggaacta gggggctgct ggtgggaaat gggagccagg gcagatgtat gcattccttt 7851 atgtccctgt aaatgtggga ctacaagaag aggagctgcc tgagtggtac tttctcttcc 7911 tggtaatcct ctggcccagc cttatggcag aatagaggta tttttaggct atttttgtaa 7971 tatggcttct ggtcaaaatc cctgtgtagc tgaattccca agccctgcat tgtacagccc 8031 cccactcccc tcaccaccta ataaaggaat agttaacact caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 8091 2 2321 PRT Homo sapiens human ADNc Notch 3 2 Met Gly Pro Gly Ala Arg Gly Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Pro Met Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Val Arg Ala Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu 20 25 30 Leu Ala Gly Pro Gly Ala Ala Ala Pro Pro Cys Leu Asp Gly Ser Pro 35 40 45 Cys Ala Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Thr Gln Leu Pro Ser Arg Glu Ala Ala 50 55 60 Cys Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Trp Val Gly Glu Arg Cys Gln Leu Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 Pro Cys His Ser Gly Pro Cys Ala Gly Arg Gly Val Cys Gln Ser Ser 85 90 95 Val Val Ala Gly Thr Ala Arg Phe Ser Cys Arg Cys Pro Arg Gly Phe 100 105 110 Arg Gly Pro Asp Cys Ser Leu Pro Asp Pro Cys Leu Ser Ser Pro Cys 115 120 125 Ala His Gly Ala Arg Cys Ser Val Gly Pro Asp Gly Arg Phe Leu Cys 130 135 140 Ser Cys Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gln Gly Arg Ser Cys Arg Ser Asp Val Asp 145 150 155 160 Glu Cys Arg Val Gly Glu Pro Cys Arg His Gly Gly Thr Cys Leu Asn 165 170 175 Thr Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Cys Gln Cys Pro Ala Gly Tyr Thr Gly Pro 180 185 190 Leu Cys Glu Asn Pro Ala Val Pro Cys Ala Pro Ser Pro Cys Arg Asn 195 200 205 Gly Gly Thr Cys Arg Gln Ser Gly Asp Leu Thr Tyr Asp Cys Ala Cys 210 215 220 Leu Pro Gly Phe Glu Gly Gln Asn Cys Glu Val Asn Val Asp Asp Cys 225 230 235 240 Pro Gly His Arg Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys Val Asp Gly Val Asn 245 250 255 Thr Tyr Asn Cys Gln Cys Pro Pro Glu Trp Thr Gly Gln Phe Cys Thr 260 265 270 Glu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Gln Leu Gln Pro Asn Ala Cys His Asn Gly 275 280 285 Gly Thr Cys Phe Asn Thr Leu Gly Gly His Ser Cys Val Cys Val Asn 290 295 300 Gly Trp Thr Gly Glu Ser Cys Ser Gln Asn Ile Asp Asp Cys Ala Thr 305 310 315 320 Ala Val Cys Phe His Gly Ala Thr Cys His Asp Arg Val Ala Ser Phe 325 330 335 Tyr Cys Ala Cys Pro Met Gly Lys Thr Gly Leu Leu Cys His Leu Asp 340 345 350 Asp Ala Cys Val Ser Asn Pro Cys His Glu Asp Ala Ile Cys Asp Thr 355 360 365 Asn Pro Val Asn Gly Arg Ala Ile Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly Phe Thr 370 375 380 Gly Gly Ala Cys Asp Gln Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ser Ile Gly Ala Asn 385 390 395 400 Pro Cys Glu His Leu Gly Arg Cys Val Asn Thr Gln Gly Ser Phe Leu 405 410 415 Cys Gln Cys Gly Arg Gly Tyr Thr Gly Pro Arg Cys Glu Thr Asp Val 420 425 430 Asn Glu Cys Leu Ser Gly Pro Cys Arg Asn Gln Ala Thr Cys Leu Asp 435 440 445 Arg Ile Gly Gln Phe Thr Cys Ile Cys Met Ala Gly Phe Thr Gly Thr 450 455 460 Tyr Cys Glu Val Asp Ile Asp Glu Cys Gln Ser Ser Pro Cys Val Asn 465 470 475 480 Gly Gly Val Cys Lys Asp Arg Val Asn Gly Phe Ser Cys Thr Cys Pro 485 490 495 Ser Gly Phe Ser Gly Ser Thr Cys Gln Leu Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ala 500 505 510 Ser Thr Pro Cys Arg Asn Gly Ala Lys Cys Val Asp Gln Pro Asp Gly 515 520 525 Tyr Glu Cys Arg Cys Ala Glu Gly Phe Glu Gly Thr Leu Cys Asp Arg 530 535 540 Asn Val Asp Asp Cys Ser Pro Asp Pro Cys His His Gly Arg Cys Val 545 550 555 560 Asp Gly Ile Ala Ser Phe Ser Cys Ala Cys Ala Pro Gly Tyr Thr Gly 565 570 575 Thr Arg Cys Glu Ser Gln Val Asp Glu Cys Arg Ser Gln Pro Cys Arg 580 585 590 His Gly Gly Lys Cys Leu Asp Leu Val Asp Lys Tyr Leu Cys Arg Cys 595 600 605 Pro Ser Gly Thr Thr Gly Val Asn Cys Glu Val Asn Ile Asp Asp Cys 610 615 620 Ala Ser Asn Pro Cys Thr Phe Gly Val Cys Arg Asp Gly Ile Asn Arg 625 630 635 640 Tyr Asp Cys Val Cys Gln Pro Gly Phe Thr Gly Pro Leu Cys Asn Val 645 650 655 Glu Ile Asn Glu Cys Ala Ser Ser Pro Cys Gly Glu Gly Gly Ser Cys 660 665 670 Val Asp Gly Glu Asn Gly Phe Arg Cys Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Ser Leu 675 680 685 Pro Pro Leu Cys Leu Pro Pro Ser His Pro Cys Ala His Glu Pro Cys 690 695 700 Ser His Gly Ile Cys Tyr Asp Ala Pro Gly Gly Phe Arg Cys Val Cys 705 710 715 720 Glu Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys Ser Gln Ser Leu Ala Arg Asp 725 730 735 Ala Cys Glu Ser Gln Pro Cys Arg Ala Gly Gly Thr Cys Ser Ser Asp 740 745 750 Gly Met Gly Phe His Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly Val Gln Gly Arg Gln 755 760 765 Cys Glu Leu Leu Ser Pro Cys Thr Pro Asn Pro Cys Glu His Gly Gly 770 775 780 Arg Cys Glu Ser Ala Pro Gly Gln Leu Pro Val Cys Ser Cys Pro Gln 785 790 795 800 Gly Trp Gln Gly Pro Arg Cys Gln Gln Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ala Gly 805 810 815 Pro Ala Pro Cys Gly Pro His Gly Ile Cys Thr Asn Leu Ala Gly Ser 820 825 830 Phe Ser Cys Thr Cys His Gly Gly Tyr Thr Gly Pro Ser Cys Asp Gln 835 840 845 Asp Ile Asn Asp Cys Asp Pro Asn Pro Cys Leu Asn Gly Gly Ser Cys 850 855 860 Gln Asp Gly Val Gly Ser Phe Ser Cys Ser Cys Leu Pro Gly Phe Ala 865 870 875 880 Gly Pro Arg Cys Ala Arg Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Leu Ser Asn Pro Cys 885 890 895 Gly Pro Gly Thr Cys Thr Asp His Val Ala Ser Phe Thr Cys Thr Cys 900 905 910 Pro Pro Gly Tyr Gly Gly Phe His Cys Glu Gln Asp Leu Pro Asp Cys 915 920 925 Ser Pro Ser Ser Cys Phe Asn Gly Gly Thr Cys Val Asp Gly Val Asn 930 935 940 Ser Phe Ser Cys Leu Cys Arg Pro Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala His Cys Gln 945 950 955 960 His Glu Ala Asp Pro Cys Leu Ser Arg Pro Cys Leu His Gly Gly Val 965 970 975 Cys Ser Ala Ala His Pro Gly Phe Arg Cys Thr Cys Leu Glu Ser Phe 980 985 990 Thr Gly Pro Gln Cys Gln Thr Leu Val Asp Trp Cys Ser Arg Gln Pro 995 1000 1005 Cys Gln Asn Gly Gly Arg Cys Val Gln Thr Gly Ala Tyr Cys Leu Cys 1010 1015 1020 Pro Pro Gly Trp Ser Gly Arg Leu Cys Asp Ile Arg Ser Leu Pro Cys 1025 1030 1035 1040 Arg Glu Ala Ala Ala Gln Ile Gly Val Arg Leu Glu Gln Leu Cys Gln 1045 1050 1055 Ala Gly Gly Gln Cys Val Asp Glu Asp Ser Ser His Tyr Cys Val Cys 1060 1065 1070 Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Gly Ser His Cys Glu Gln Glu Val Asp Pro Cys 1075 1080 1085 Leu Ala Gln Pro Cys Gln His Gly Gly Thr Cys Arg Gly Tyr Met Gly 1090 1095 1100 Gly Tyr Met Cys Glu Cys Leu Pro Gly Tyr Asn Gly Asp Asn Cys Glu 1105 1110 1115 1120 Asp Asp Val Asp Glu Cys Ala Ser Gln Pro Cys Gln His Gly Gly Ser 1125 1130 1135 Cys Ile Asp Leu Val Ala Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ser Cys Pro Pro Gly Thr 1140 1145 1150 Leu Gly Val Leu Cys Glu Ile Asn Glu Asp Asp Cys Gly Pro Gly Pro 1155 1160 1165 Pro Leu Asp Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys Leu His Asn Gly Thr Cys Val Asp 1170 1175 1180 Leu Val Gly Gly Phe Arg Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Gly Tyr Thr Gly Leu 1185 1190 1195 1200 Arg Cys Glu Ala Asp Ile Asn Glu Cys Arg Ser Gly Ala Cys His Ala 1205 1210 1215 Ala His Thr Arg Asp Cys Leu Gln Asp Pro Gly Gly Gly Phe Arg Cys 1220 1225 1230 Leu Cys His Ala Gly Phe Ser Gly Pro Arg Cys Gln Thr Val Leu Ser 1235 1240 1245 Pro Cys Glu Ser Gln Pro Cys Gln His Gly Gly Gln Cys Arg Pro Ser 1250 1255 1260 Pro Gly Pro Gly Gly Gly Leu Thr Phe Thr Cys His Cys Ala Gln Pro 1265 1270 1275 1280 Phe Trp Gly Pro Arg Cys Glu Arg Val Ala Arg Ser Cys Arg Glu Leu 1285 1290 1295 Gln Cys Pro Val Gly Val Pro Cys Gln Gln Thr Pro Arg Gly Pro Arg 1300 1305 1310 Cys Ala Cys Pro Pro Gly Leu Ser Gly Pro Ser Cys Arg Ser Phe Pro 1315 1320 1325 Gly Ser Pro Pro Gly Ala Ser Asn Ala Ser Cys Ala Ala Ala Pro Cys 1330 1335 1340 Leu His Gly Gly Ser Cys Arg Pro Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Phe Phe Arg 1345 1350 1355 1360 Cys Ala Cys Ala Gln Gly Trp Thr Gly Pro Arg Cys Glu Ala Pro Ala 1365 1370 1375 Ala Ala Pro Glu Val Ser Glu Glu Pro Arg Cys Pro Arg Ala Ala Cys 1380 1385 1390 Gln Ala Lys Arg Gly Asp Gln Arg Cys Asp Arg Glu Cys Asn Ser Pro 1395 1400 1405 Gly Cys Gly Trp Asp Gly Gly Asp Cys Ser Leu Ser Val Gly Asp Pro 1410 1415 1420 Trp Arg Gln Cys Glu Ala Leu Gln Cys Trp Arg Leu Phe Asn Asn Ser 1425 1430 1435 1440 Arg Cys Asp Pro Ala Cys Ser Ser Pro Ala Cys Leu Tyr Asp Asn Phe 1445 1450 1455 Asp Cys His Ala Gly Gly Arg Glu Arg Thr Cys Asn Pro Val Tyr Glu 1460 1465 1470 Lys Tyr Cys Ala Asp His Phe Ala Asp Gly Arg Cys Asp Gln Gly Cys 1475 1480 1485 Asn Thr Glu Glu Cys Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu Asp Cys Ala Ser Glu Val 1490 1495 1500 Pro Ala Leu Leu Ala Arg Gly Val Leu Val Leu Thr Val Leu Leu Pro 1505 1510 1515 1520 Pro Glu Glu Leu Leu Arg Ser Ser Ala Asp Phe Leu Gln Arg Leu Ser 1525 1530 1535 Ala Ile Leu Arg Thr Ser Leu Arg Phe Arg Leu Asp Ala His Gly Gln 1540 1545 1550 Ala Met Val Phe Pro Tyr His Arg Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Glu Pro Arg 1555 1560 1565 Ala Arg Arg Glu Leu Ala Pro Glu Val Ile Gly Ser Val Val Met Leu 1570 1575 1580 Glu Ile Asp Asn Arg Leu Cys Leu Gln Ser Pro Glu Asn Asp His Cys 1585 1590 1595 1600 Phe Pro Asp Ala Gln Ser Ala Ala Asp Tyr Leu Gly Ala Leu Ser Ala 1605 1610 1615 Val Glu Arg Leu Asp Phe Pro Tyr Pro Leu Arg Asp Val Arg Gly Glu 1620 1625 1630 Pro Leu Glu Pro Pro Glu Pro Ser Val Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Val 1635 1640 1645 Ala Gly Ala Val Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Leu Val Leu Gly Val Met Val 1650 1655 1660 Ala Arg Arg Lys Arg Glu His Ser Thr Leu Trp Phe Pro Glu Gly Phe 1665 1670 1675 1680 Ser Leu His Lys Asp Val Ala Ser Gly His Lys Gly Arg Arg Glu Pro 1685 1690 1695 Val Gly Gln Asp Ala Leu Gly Met Lys Asn Met Ala Lys Gly Glu Ser 1700 1705 1710 Leu Met Gly Glu Val Ala Thr Asp Trp Met Asp Thr Glu Cys Pro Glu 1715 1720 1725 Ala Lys Arg Leu Lys Val Glu Glu Pro Gly Met Gly Ala Glu Glu Ala 1730 1735 1740 Val Asp Cys Arg Gln Trp Thr Gln His His Leu Val Ala Ala Asp Ile 1745 1750 1755 1760 Arg Val Ala Pro Ala Met Ala Leu Thr Pro Pro Gln Gly Asp Ala Asp 1765 1770 1775 Ala Asp Gly Met Asp Val Asn Val Arg Gly Pro Asp Gly Phe Thr Pro 1780 1785 1790 Leu Met Leu Ala Ser Phe Cys Gly Gly Ala Leu Glu Pro Met Pro Thr 1795 1800 1805 Glu Glu Asp Glu Ala Asp Asp Thr Ser Ala Ser Ile Ile Ser Asp Leu 1810 1815 1820 Ile Cys Gln Gly Ala Gln Leu Gly Ala Arg Thr Asp Arg Thr Gly Glu 1825 1830 1835 1840 Thr Ala Leu His Leu Ala Ala Arg Tyr Ala Arg Ala Asp Ala Ala Lys 1845 1850 1855 Arg Leu Leu Asp Ala Gly Ala Asp Thr Asn Ala Gln Asp His Ser Gly 1860 1865 1870 Arg Thr Pro Leu His Thr Ala Val Thr Ala Asp Ala Gln Gly Val Phe 1875 1880 1885 Gln Ile Leu Ile Arg Asn Arg Ser Thr Asp Leu Asp Ala Arg Met Ala 1890 1895 1900 Asp Gly Ser Thr Ala Leu Ile Leu Ala Ala Arg Leu Ala Val Glu Gly 1905 1910 1915 1920 Met Val Glu Glu Leu Ile Ala Ser His Ala Asp Val Asn Ala Val Asp 1925 1930 1935 Glu Leu Gly Lys Ser Ala Leu His Trp Ala Ala Ala Val Asn Asn Val 1940 1945 1950 Glu Ala Thr Leu Ala Leu Leu Lys Asn Gly Ala Asn Lys Asp Met Gln 1955 1960 1965 Asp Ser Lys Glu Glu Thr Pro Leu Phe Leu Ala Ala Arg Glu Gly Ser 1970 1975 1980 Tyr Glu Ala Ala Lys Leu Leu Leu Asp His Phe Ala Asn Arg Glu Ile 1985 1990 1995 2000 Thr Asp His Leu Asp Arg Leu Pro Arg Asp Val Ala Gln Glu Arg Leu 2005 2010 2015 His Gln Asp Ile Val Arg Leu Leu Asp Gln Pro Ser Gly Pro Arg Ser 2020 2025 2030 Pro Pro Gly Pro His Gly Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Ala 2035 2040 2045 Phe Leu Pro Gly Leu Lys Ala Ala Gln Ser Gly Ser Lys Lys Ser Arg 2050 2055 2060 Arg Pro Pro Gly Lys Ala Gly Leu Gly Pro Gln Gly Pro Arg Gly Arg 2065 2070 2075 2080 Gly Lys Lys Leu Thr Leu Ala Cys Pro Gly Pro Leu Ala Asp Ser Ser 2085 2090 2095 Val Thr Leu Ser Pro Val Asp Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Pro Phe Gly 2100 2105 2110 Gly Pro Pro Ala Ser Pro Gly Gly Phe Pro Leu Glu Gly Pro Tyr Ala 2115 2120 2125 Ala Ala Thr Ala Thr Ala Val Ser Leu Ala Gln Leu Gly Gly Pro Gly 2130 2135 2140 Arg Ala Gly Leu Gly Arg Gln Pro Pro Gly Gly Cys Val Leu Ser Leu 2145 2150 2155 2160 Gly Leu Leu Asn Pro Val Ala Val Pro Leu Asp Trp Ala Arg Leu Pro 2165 2170 2175 Pro Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Pro Ser Phe Leu Leu Pro Leu Ala Pro Gly 2180 2185 2190 Pro Gln Leu Leu Asn Pro Gly Thr Pro Val Ser Pro Gln Glu Arg Pro 2195 2200 2205 Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ala Val Pro Gly His Gly Glu Glu Tyr Pro Val Ala 2210 2215 2220 Gly Ala His Ser Ser Pro Pro Lys Ala Arg Phe Leu Arg Val Pro Ser 2225 2230 2235 2240 Glu His Pro Tyr Leu Thr Pro Ser Pro Glu Ser Pro Glu His Trp Ala 2245 2250 2255 Ser Pro Ser Pro Pro Ser Leu Ser Asp Trp Ser Glu Ser Thr Pro Ser 2260 2265 2270 Pro Ala Thr Ala Thr Gly Ala Met Ala Thr Thr Thr Gly Ala Leu Pro 2275 2280 2285 Ala Gln Pro Leu Pro Leu Ser Val Pro Ser Ser Leu Ala Gln Ala Gln 2290 2295 2300 Thr Gln Leu Gly Pro Gln Pro Glu Val Thr Pro Lys Arg Gln Val Leu 2305 2310 2315 2320 Ala 3 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 3 ctgcaggtga ggggc 15 4 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 4 cccacacagc ccccc 15 5 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 5 ctgcctgtga gtgcc 15 6 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 6 gcccacaggt gccc 14 7 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 7 tccgaggtga gagg 14 8 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 8 ccctccaggc cctg 14 9 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 9 ttcctggtga gtga 14 10 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 10 cttgttaggg tttg 14 11 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 11 ggacaggtgg gcac 14 12 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 12 tgccacaggc cagt 14 13 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 13 agactggtga gtgg 14 14 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 14 cttcccaggc ctcc 14 15 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 15 ctatcggtga gggg 14 16 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 16 tccggcaggc gcca 14 17 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 17 tggcaggtgg gtgg 14 18 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 18 tgccccaggc ttca 14 19 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 19 cctcgggtga ggac 14 20 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 20 caccccaggc ttca 14 21 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 21 ccgagggtga ggcg 14 22 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 22 ccccacaggc tttg 14 23 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 23 ccacaggtgg gacc 14 24 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 24 gcccctaggt gtga 14 25 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 25 tcacaggtgg gcaa 14 26 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 26 ctccccaggg cccc 14 27 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 27 tggcgggtga gggc 14 28 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 28 cctgccaggt tccg 14 29 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 29 tccagggtgt gtac 14 30 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 30 cccaacagga cgtc 14 31 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 31 ggcaaggtat gccac 15 32 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 32 tacccccagg cccac 15 33 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 33 accccagtga gtgca 15 34 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 34 gtccgcagac ccat 14 35 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 35 ccccaggtgg gcgg 14 36 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 36 cgctccagct cctg 14 37 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 37 tgccaggtgg gtgg 14 38 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 38 ccctccagac gctg 14 39 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 39 agatcggtga gtgg 14 40 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 40 ctttgcaggg gtgc 14 41 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 41 tgtgaggtaa gggg 14 42 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 42 cactgaagtg tctt 14 43 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 43 cgctgggtat gcca 14 44 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 44 tcccccaggg gtgc 14 45 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 45 tctcaggtta acct 14 46 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 46 tcgctcaggt cctc 14 47 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 47 gcccaggtag gtgtg 15 48 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 48 gacccccagc cgttc 15 49 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 49 ttgcaagtga gccc 14 50 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 50 cccaccagcc cggt 14 51 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 51 gatcgggtga gtgac 15 52 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 52 tccctgcagc tcggt 15 53 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 53 tgcggggtgc ggcc 14 54 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 54 tgctcttagg ggagc 15 55 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 55 catgaagtga gaac 14 56 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 56 tccgccagga acat 14 57 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 57 ctaaaggtac tgcc 14 58 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 58 cccctccagg tagag 15 59 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 59 gcccaggtca gtgac 15 60 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 60 ccctgcagat ggct 14 61 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 61 ttccaggtga gata 14 62 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 62 tgtcctagat tctc 14 63 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 63 agcttggtag gttg 14 64 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 64 ccctccaggg aaat 14 65 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 65 agcaaggtga gccc 14 66 14 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 66 ccccccagga ggag 14 67 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 67 aaggagggag gaggggag 18 68 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 68 tgggggttct tgcactcc 18 69 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 69 ggttcctgcc tcccatga 18 70 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 70 tcctccacct tccttcac 18 71 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 71 acacacaggg cccactggt 19 72 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 72 tgtgctgccc aaccaagcca 20 73 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 73 actgaccaca cccccgacta 20 74 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 74 tagtcggggg tgtggtcagt 20 75 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 75 tcatccacgt cgcttcggca 20 76 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 76 atggacgctt cctctgctc 19 77 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 77 acatagtggc cctgtgtagc 20 78 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 78 atggacgctt cctctgctcc 20 79 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 79 cctctgactc tcctgagtag 20 80 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 80 tgaccatcct tgccccctt 19 81 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 81 ctggcctgtg gcacacagat 20 82 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 82 tggactgctg catctgtgtg 20 83 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 83 acacgcctgt ggcacagtca 20 84 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 84 gagctgcagt cagaatatcg 20 85 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 85 atccatggct ccctgcagag 20 86 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 86 cagagcagga agatctgcct 20 87 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 87 cattcacaga cgacggagct 20 88 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 88 atcgcactcc atccggca 18 89 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 89 acccacctgc catacaga 18 90 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 90 cgttcacacc atagggtagc 20 91 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 91 ccccttccca gacatgtctt 20 92 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 92 cttgtcggac tgtcattgg 19 93 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 93 gtgtactgct ctcaccctt 19 94 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 94 attggtccga ggcctcactt 20 95 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 95 acctggctct cgcagcgtgt 20 96 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 96 ccattcccaa cccctctgtg 20 97 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 97 tgcctgtgct cctggctaca 20 98 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 98 tggccactcc atgccatgtt 20 99 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 99 tctcatggca gccacttgcc 20 100 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 100 atgagtgtgc ttccagccca 20 101 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 101 gcagtgtctg aggctgagaa 20 102 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 102 tccctggcct gactaccttc 20 103 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 103 ctgcagaggg aaggtgaggt 20 104 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 104 aaggctatcc tgcttcc 17 105 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 105 gaggaggagg gaagagaa 18 106 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 106 aggatgtgga cgagtgtgct 20 107 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 107 gcttaatgac tgtgttcc 18 108 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 108 tcagactggg ctaatggggg 20 109 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 109 tcgcagtgga agcctccgta 20 110 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 110 gatgtggatg agtgcctgag 20 111 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 111 gtcctgctct tcaagcaga 19 112 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 112 gatcctccct cccactcctt 20 113 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 113 aggtccccag taactcca 18 114 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 114 actgactcta agtgcttccc 20 115 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 115 agcaggaggt acgtgcatga 20 116 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 116 tgttcctgtg ccactctcct 20 117 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 117 acctcctctt ccctctcct 19 118 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 118 tctgtgtccc actaagctga 20 119 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 119 caagaggaaa tgaagacagc 20 120 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 120 ttcctcttga ccacccctcg 20 121 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 121 tggcaggcac ctgagcgaca 20 122 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 122 caggatacac tggtttgcgc 20 123 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 123 tgccacgtta tggatcagcc 20 124 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 124 gatctacatg ctcccgctcg 20 125 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 125 tactcctcct ccataggccg 20 126 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 126 cgttctgggg tccgcgtt 18 127 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 127 aagcgcagcg gaagaagggc 20 128 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 128 gcccttcttc cgctgcgctt 20 129 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 129 actgcagcgc ctcgcattgc 20 130 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 130 ctgcgaccgc gagtgcaaca 20 131 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 131 atagacagac ggatcgat 18 132 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 132 ctctctgcct caccctt 17 133 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 133 gctggaacgc agtagct 17 134 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 134 tgctcacagt gctgctg 17 135 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 135 cacggctttt ccaggtg 17 136 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 136 tttgagccct ctggtcc 17 137 17 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 137 aagagcagga agcagag 17 138 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 138 tccctctgct tcctgctctt 20 139 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 139 tcacaaggtc cccgtagtca 20 140 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 140 ctcacatccc ctcttcccat 20 141 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 141 atcacgccca tcatccactg 20 142 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 142 cagcaccaaa gggtg 15 143 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 143 catccctttg ggagg 15 144 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 144 atggcttcac cccgctaatg 20 145 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 145 agccaggtgc aaagcagtct 20 146 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 146 tcagcttggg gcacggactg 20 147 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 147 gcatcggctg tgacagctgt 20 148 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 148 tgttcctgcc atgacccct 19 149 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 149 caggtgacac taacccagtc 20 150 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 150 tcctgacctc tctccccttc 20 151 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 151 aatggcgctg tgccactgct 20 152 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 152 gctactgtta gctggggttt 20 153 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 153 tgatccagca agcgcacgat 20 154 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 154 tcaccgacca cctggaca 18 155 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 155 accaagctgt gccagaga 18 156 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 156 tccaagaaga gcaggagg 18 157 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 157 accaagctgt gccagaga 18 158 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 158 cagtgtctct ggcacagctt 20 159 19 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 159 tcctgggact gccaggtaa 19 160 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 160 agctgctcaa cccaggga 18 161 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 161 gtggattcgg accagtct 18 162 16 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 162 gaatcccctg agcact 16 163 16 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence primer 163 ctaagaactg acgagc 16 

1. Isolated nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it is chosen from: a) the sequences encoding the human Notch3 protein and its allelic variants, b) the sequences encoding a fragment of this protein and having at least 10 bases, c) the human Notch3 genomic sequences and its alleles, d) the sequences exhibiting at least 90%, homology with the sequences (a) and (c), e) the fragments of the sequences (c) or (d) having at least 10 bases, f) the sequences which hybridize with a sequence of (a) to (e).
 2. Nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it is chosen from: a) the sequences encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acids according to the sequence in FIG. 1, b) the nucleic sequences corresponding to FIG. 1, c) a fragment of a sequence according to (a) or (b) containing at least 10 bases, and d) a sequence which contains, relative to the sequences (a), (b) or (c), at most 20 point mutations.
 3. Nucleotide sequence according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one mutation chosen from the group of mutations in Table C.
 4. Nucleotide sequence according to claim 3, characterized in that it contains at least 10 bases.
 5. Nucleotide sequence which can be used especially as a primer specific for an allelic variant, characterized in that its sequence is chosen from the sequences according to claim
 4. 6. Nucleotide sequence which can be used especially as a nucleic primer consisting of the sequences described in Table B and their complementary sequences.
 7. Nucleotide sequence which can be used especially as a probe specific for an allelic variant, characterized in that its sequence is chosen from the sequences according to claim
 4. 8. Nucleotide sequence according to claim 1, characterized in that the sequence encodes one of the Notch3 domains.
 9. Vector for the cloning or expression, in an appropriate host cell, of a nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it comprises a sequence according to one of claims 1 to 3 and
 8. 10. Vector according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises the elements allowing the expression of said sequences in said host cell.
 11. Vector according to either of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that it is an autonomously replicating vector.
 12. Vector according to either of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that it is a chromosomal integrating vector.
 13. Vector according to either of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that it is a viral vector.
 14. Vector according to claim 13, characterized in that the vector is prepared based on an adenovirus, a retrovirus, a poxvirus or a herpesvirus.
 15. Cell transformed with a vector according to one of claims 9 to
 14. 16. Cell according to claim 15, characterized in that it is a prokaryotic cell.
 17. Cell according to claim 15, characterized in that it is a eukaryotic cell.
 18. Method of producing a protein corresponding to one of the sequences (a) to (f) according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that a cell according to one of claims 15 to 17 is cultured and in that the protein produced is recovered.
 19. Protein or polypeptide capable of being obtained using the method according to claim
 18. 20. Protein or polypeptide according to claim 19, characterized in that it is a soluble protein or polypeptide.
 21. Polypeptide specific for the mutated form of the Notch protein according to claim 19, characterized in that its sequence is chosen from the polypeptide sequences comprising at least one mutation chosen from the mutations corresponding to Table C.
 22. Therapeutic composition characterized in that it contains, as active ingredient, a compound with a pro-Notch3 activity.
 23. Composition according to claim 22, characterized in that the compound with a pro-Notch3 activity is a protein or a polypeptide according to claim
 19. 24. Composition according to claim 22, characterized in that the compound with a pro-Notch3 activity is an expression vector according to one of claims 9 to
 14. 25. Composition according to claim 22, characterized in that the compound with a pro-Notch3 activity is a sense sequence inducing the production of Notch3.
 26. Composition according to claim 22, characterized in that the compound with a pro-Notch3 activity is a monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope of the Notch3 receptor.
 27. Therapeutic composition characterized in that it comprises, as active ingredient, a compound with an anti-Notch3 activity.
 28. Composition according to claim 27, characterized in that the active ingredient is an anti-Notch3 antibody.
 29. Composition according to claim 27, characterized in that the active ingredient is an antisense sequence which blocks the expression of Notch3.
 30. Composition according to claim 27, characterized in that the active ingredient is a soluble sequence corresponding to Notch3.
 31. Composition according to claim 27, characterized in that the compound with an anti-Notch3 activity is a monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope of the Notch3 receptor.
 32. Method of diagnosing a predisposition to neurological conditions, especially of the CADASIL type, or of diseases linked to the Notch3 receptor in a patient, characterized in that the presence of a mutation in the Notch3 gene is determined using a biological sample from said patient by analysis of all or part of a nucleic sequence corresponding to said gene, the presence of at least one such mutation being indicative of a predisposition of said patient to neurological conditions or diseases linked to the Notch3 receptor.
 33. Diagnostic method according to claim 32, characterized in that the mutation(s) which it is sought to determine are the mutations chosen from the group of mutations described in Table C.
 34. Method according to either of claims 32 and 33, in which the nucleic acid sequence analyzed is a genomic DNA, a cDNA or an mRNA.
 35. Method according to one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that said analysis is carried out by hybridization.
 36. Method according to one of claims 32 to 34, characterized in that the presence of a mutation is detected by comparison with the corresponding nonmutated natural sequence.
 37. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that said hybridization is carried out with the aid of at least one oligonucleotide probe specific for the allelic variant.
 38. Method according to one of claims 32 to 37, characterized in that said analysis is carried out by sequencing.
 39. Method according to one of claims 32 to 37, characterized in that said analysis is carried out by electrophoretic migration, and more particularly by SSCP or DGGE.
 40. Method according to one of claims 32 to 37, characterized in that said analysis is carried out by a methodology intended to detect a truncation of the protein.
 41. Method according to one of claims 32 to 40, characterized in that all or part of the nucleic sequence of the Notch3 gene is amplified prior to the detection of the mutation(s).
 42. Method according to claim 41, characterized in that the amplification is carried out by PCR or PCR-like.
 43. Method according to either of claims 41 and 42, characterized in that the primers chosen to carry out the amplification are chosen from the primers defined according to claim
 6. 44. Reagent for detecting and/or identifying a mutation of the Notch3 gene in a biological sample, characterized in that it comprises a so-called capture probe and/or a so-called detection probe, at least one of these probes being a probe according to claim
 7. 45. Method of diagnosing a predisposition to neurological conditions of the CADASIL type or diseases linked to the Notch3 receptor in a patient, characterized in that the presence of a mutated Notch3 receptor is determined using a biological sample from said patient.
 46. Method according to claim 45, characterized in that the detection is carried out by an ELISA or RIA method.
 47. Application of cells according to one of claims 15 to 17 for the selection of products interacting with the natural or mutated Notch3 receptor as agonist or antagonist of this receptor.
 48. Product obtained using claim
 47. 49. Antibody against the proteins according to one of claims 19 to
 21. 50. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, characterized in that they are obtained by immunological reaction of a human or animal organism with an immunogenic agent consisting of a protein or a polypeptide according to one of claims 19 to
 21. 51. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, characterized in that they are obtained by immunological reaction of a human or animal organism to an immunogenic agent consisting of a polypeptide according to claim
 20. 52. Antibody according to one of claims 49 to 51, characterized in that it is an antibody labeled for imaging.
 53. Reagent for carrying out a diagnostic method according to claim 45, characterized in that it comprises, as reactive substance, at least one antibody according to one of claims 49 to
 52. 